Western Province's top-order batter Joshua van Heerden has become the first like-for-like injury replacement. Van Heerden came in for Edward Moore in a CSA 4-Day Series Division 1 game against Lions, becoming the first-ever substitute under the new trial for substitutes in cricket. He suffered a left adductor tear inner thigh muscle while fielding on Day 2 of the clash at Newlands in Cape Town.
Meanwhile, the new trial for substitutesis a part of an initiative taken by the International Cricket Council ICC and s also being conducted in Australia Sheffield Shield and India Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy. The rule is based on seeking a solution for teams who lose players to serious injuries during a multi-day game.
Like the procedure Australia is following, South Africa is considering both internal and external injuries in case of substituting players. On the other hand, India have only focused at external injuries for the time being.