Concussion Guidance - a reminder
In May 2021 the ECB issued the following Guidance:
The following advice replaces all previous ECB ACO guidance and is intended to sit
alongside any concussion training set for umpires (whether online or in person).
Concussion is a serious and on occasion potentially life-threatening condition. It can be
caused by a relatively innocuous blow to the head. Umpires are among those consistently
present at matches who have a Duty of Care to the players. Umpires are (in general) not
qualified to determine whether anyone is suffering from a concussion, but they do have an
ongoing general duty of care to players during a match. The discharge of this duty will be
different in every circumstance but generally, the umpire should be deemed to be acting
reasonably if they follow the steps outlined below.
Although the most likely cause of concussion is by a direct blow to the head caused by being
hit by the ball, players may also suffer concussion from a blow to the head through collisions
with each other, running into walls/fences around the boundary, or hitting their head on the
ground. Therefore, where a blow to the head occurs, however mild, the umpires shall
proceed with the following steps:
1. Either umpire shall immediately call and signal dead ball irrespective of the
state of play. Runs completed, plus the run in progress, if the batsman have
crossed, shall be allowed.
2. In the event of what is felt to be a serious / significant injury to a player, such
as the player is rendered unconscious or is bleeding significantly or upon
reasonable inspection by the umpire, exhibits any symptoms which give the
umpire cause for significant concern, umpires should ask the host ground
authority to call for emergency medical support (most likely an ambulance)
and should discourage the player from moving or being moved until medical
assistance arrives.
3. If the umpire(s) determine that they do not have immediate and significant
concern that requires ground authority to call for emergency medical support,
the umpires shall ask the Responsible Adult from the injured player’s team to
immediately assess whether the player is fit to continue. The umpires are not
required to take part in this assessment.
4. If the Responsible Adult advises the player can continue, unless the umpire
has concerns about the player continuing, the umpires shall recommence
play. If the umpire(s) have any concerns about the player prior to play
continuing or as play continues (either where the player has stayed on the
field or returned), the umpire(s) should repeat Steps 1 to 3.
5. If the Responsible Adult advises the player can continue but subsequently
either umpire has further concern about them, they shall repeat Steps 1 and
3. If the Responsible Adult continues to advise that the player is fit to continue
and the umpire(s) continue to have any concerns about the player, the
umpires shall leave the field of play and refuse to umpire the match. They
shall report the issue to the authority responsible for the game.
Notes;
1. The term Responsible Adult is used in this document to mean a person from
the injured player’s Club with a duty of care over the player and determined
by the injured player’s Club to be capable of making a decision as to the
player’s health and/or welfare. This may include the Captain and/or Coach.
The responsibility for ensuring the Responsible Adult is trained about, and
aware of, all issues they must consider when making the decision, rests with
the Club. Umpires may rely on the assessment of the Responsible Adult but
should continue to apply the Steps detailed above as they deem appropriate
in the circumstances.
2. In all circumstances the Responsible Adult must be over 18, including for
youth teams and adult teams with a captain under 18. (In such instances the
Responsible Adult should therefore be an adult coach or other relevant adult
Club official).
3. In the event the player leaves the field this shall not result in the accrual of
penalty time as defined in Law 24.2.
4. Playing time lost in dealing with any incident of concussion shall be added to
the day’s playing time (most typically for a limited overs game the cut off time
required to complete the overs shall be extended).”
Applying this guidance means that, under Law 20.4.2, the ball is considered Dead at the
instant of the blow to the head. It follows that once a blow to the head has been suffered by
batter, fielder, or wicketkeeper no dismissal can take place and runs, including extras,
cannot be scored. The guidance overrides the Laws. The fact that a player may be wearing
a helmet makes no difference.
Umpires are expected to apply this guidance without exception. They should remind
captains about this at the toss.
MCC are aware of the inconsistencies between the Laws and the Guidance. They say in
Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring & Scoring (2022 Edition) at page 292 that: “Any guidance
from the local Governing Body on head strikes must, of course, be followed and should take
precedence.”
