It is more complicated in cricket, where Law 24 has never been broken. But it was softened six years ago when Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne became the first substitute allowed to bat in a Test after Steve Smith was struck on the head by Archer at Lord’s and suffered a concussion.

Injured India batter Rishabh Pant's brave fifty with a broken foot in the fourth Test against England was "great theatre" but it also showed "cricket is in dark ages" on the issue of allowing medical substitutes, feels former England captain Michael Vaughan.