County Championship: What are the rules on substitutes?

Cricket’s County Championship has introduced a looser substitute framework for the 2026 season, expanding when mid-match changes are allowed. Previously, substitutes could be used only if a player was concussed or received an international call-up; otherwise, teams would effectively play out the match with 10 men once a replacement reason applied. The new trial allows substitutions for additional categories including injury, illness, and significant life events, with the timing still mid-match. Every replacement must be approved by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and must be a like-for-like switch—for instance, a bowler can only replace a bowler. Similar trials have appeared in Australia, India, and South Africa.