The highest number of catches by a substitute fielder in a Test match is four, a record shared by Gursharan Singh, Younis Khan, Virender Sehwag, and Jackson Bird.
[6] Arguments in favour of general substitutes have been made from a perspective of improving the game,[7] coping with increasing injury rates due to the modern schedule,[8] to follow the lead of other sports in trying to manage concussion more responsibly[9] and to provide greater opportunities for players to gain experience in first-class cricket.
[10] However, there is an equally strong viewpoint that the nature of the first-class contest may be diminished[11] with a summary suggesting that although medical experts would recommend introduction of substitutes the majority of players are still not in favour.
[12] When a player leaves the ground due to injury and is replaced by a substitute fielder, they are generally not permitted to return and immediately resume bowling (or batting if their team's innings commences while they are off the field).
The injured player is required to spend a period back on the field at least equal to the time that they were absent before resuming bowling, or batting should a change of innings occur.
In the 2005 Ashes Test series, Australian captain Ricky Ponting repeatedly complained that England were abusing the substitute system by bringing on specialist fielders in place of bowlers with poor fielding skills, which he argued was against the spirit of cricket.
The England coach Duncan Fletcher argued that these substitutions were either legitimate injuries or players "answering the call of nature" (i.e. using the toilet).
The issue came to a climax in the 4th Test, when Ponting was run out by substitute Gary Pratt, causing him to angrily shout and gesticulate in the direction of the England dressing room.
At the time, Pratt was on the field for bowler Simon Jones - who was nursing an ankle injury that proved to end his Test career after this match.
[18] The England and Wales Cricket Board introduced concussion replacements to English domestic competitions at the start of the 2018 season.
The rules also restrict a player from taking unnecessary risks by putting their health on the line in a bid to help their team in a match.
[21] The first use of such a substitute was during the Second Test at Lord's in the 2019 Ashes series between England and Australia, when Steve Smith was hit on the neck by a bouncer by Jofra Archer in the first innings.
[26] Lister replaced Mark Chapman, who reported feeling unwell, in line with the updated International Cricket Council (ICC) playing conditions for a substitute due to COVID-19.