History made as Abbott becomes first Shield sub in Ashes blow

Fast bowler Sean Abbott has been subbed out in the first test of the Sheffield Shield’s substitute rule trial and a potential blow to Australia’s Ashes bowling back-up plan.

Abbott split the webbing on his right hand when fielding off his own bowling to a push from batsman Peter Handscomb on day one of the Blues’ Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria at the Junction Oval on Wednesday.

The Test hopeful had just started his 10th over when he was forced to leave the field.

Abbott had the injury assessed, with Blues’ medical staff opting to sub him out and replace him with fellow fast bowler Charlie Stobo.

His injury comes as Australia continues to debate how best to replace skipper and star bowler Pat Cummins for the first Ashes Test from November 21.

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Under new rules introduced this season, teams are allowed to replace a player injured up until stumps on day two of the match. To ensure fairness, the opposing team can make a tactical substitution in response, also by stumps on day two. The opposition’s tactical sub must also be like-for-like to the injured player.

The rule was an advancement on the concussion replacement rule that remains at all levels of cricket, including Test matches.

“We hope to learn much about the trial across the first five rounds that we can use in both our competition going forward and also pass up to the ICC for consideration for introduction at Test level,” Cricket Australia operations boss Peter Roach said when the rule was introduced.

Abbott must now complete a 12-day stand-down period from national or domestic competitions, beginning from Friday – the day after the scheduled second day of the match.

He has been selected in Australia’s Twenty20 squad to face India, beginning October 29 in Canberra.

While split webbing is typically not a long-term injury, Abbott’s setback comes at an inopportune time of the season.

Abbott adds to a growing list of injured fast bowlers, including Cummins, who is dealing with a back stress reaction and will almost certainly miss next month’s opening Ashes Test.

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