Paine's 'wait-and-see' approach to new subs rule

Australia captain Tim Paine is keen to see how the concussion substitute rule is applied and enforced at the highest level, noting "you'll be hard-pressed to make guys pull out of a Test match".

The International Cricket Council recently adopted a landmark rule change that will allow concussed players to be withdrawn from games and replaced during matches.

The use of concussion subs in international cricket will start on August 1, when the Ashes begin in Birmingham, but they've already been embraced at domestic level in Australia.

Cricket Australia became the first governing body to adopt concussion subs in 2016, as per a recommendation from the independent review into Phillip Hughes' death, and continued to lobby the ICC regarding the issue.

Replacements must be like for like and are subject to the match referee's approval.

"I know the rule has come in. I think you'll be hard-pressed to make guys pull out of a Test match," Paine told reporters in Southampton.

"It's going to be interesting to see how it works. We're all for player safety and improving that space.

"But it's new to me as anyone and it'll be interesting to see how it's worked and how it's policed.

"I find it quite fascinating that you can replace a guy halfway through a game. Again, we'll wait and see how that works."

Team doctors have been empowered to make the call on whether a cricketer is concussed or not during a Test, and while not all international teams travel with a doctor, Ashes protagonists Australia and England do.

The rule intends to encourage players to declare concussion symptoms - and for medicos to assess them free of pressure - knowing that removal from play will not leave their side one short.

"The introduction of the substitutes has been well received across Australian cricket by players, coaches and medical staff," CA's chief medico Alex Kountouris said last week.

The issue of head knocks in cricket was cast back into the spotlight during the recent World Cup, when Afghanistan's Hashmatullah Shahidi ignored medical advice and continued to bat after being hit on the helmet by a bouncer.

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Tour match: Hick XII v Haddin XII, July 23-26

First Test: Edgbaston, August 1-5

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: Lord's, August 14-18

Third Test: Headingley, August 22-26

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: Old Trafford, September 4-8

Fifth Test: The Oval, September 12-16