Australian batsman Adam Voges wants concussion substitutes

Following his freak head injury suffered during a County Championship, Australian batsman Adam Voges has come out in favour of concussion substitution. The Middlesex batsman was struck on his head against Hampshire and admitted he felt like he had "hangover" for 10 days.

Voges' freak injury occurred during the game against Hampshire when a ball thrown towards the keeper hit him on the back of his head. Soon after Michael Carberry hit a boundary a routine throw to the keeper turned into a serious injury as he fell down immediately before he was helped off the pitch by two physios and to a hospital.

Speaking about the idea of allowing substitute fielders for those who suffered head injury resulting a possible concussion on the field of play, Voges said: "The fact that you get pulled out of the game immediately and you don't have any say in that, is one factor in it."

"I understand the argument that, if you allow a sub for concussion, why wouldn't you allow a sub for other injuries. It could be a bit of a grey area. I understand that. But I am in favour of the sub rule."

"I was standing at slip, just contemplating a fielding change, or a bowling change, I can't quite remember," he said, speaking of the incident. "I didn't really pay attention to where the ball had gone or when it was coming back. It wasn't until very late that the keeper realised the ball was going over his head and it hit me straight in the back of the head. It was just a freak accident really.”

Like waking up with a hangover: Voges

The 36-year-old was only hospitalised briefly but admitted that it took him a while to get back to his normal self.

"I was a bit groggy for a week, week and a half after that and missed the next game," Voges said. "It was probably my first experience with it. It felt like I was waking up with a hangover. It wasn't until 10 days after it that I started to feel right again."

"It was probably more frightening for my friends and family who were, obviously, back here at home and weren't sure what was going on. We were playing down in Hampshire and my wife and kids were up in London," he said, admitting that it was probably harder for his family.

"I managed to get up to them the next day, and stay in bed. They were all a bit concerned and, obviously, my parents were a bit concerned, but, like I said, I was groggy for a little while. Once I came good, I felt fine," Voges said.

It was just a couple of months ago that Cricket Australia proposed the idea of concussion subs in their domestic first-class structure for two years. However the idea was shot down by the ICC cricket committee, who argued that "the current laws and playing conditions allow players to receive the best possible medical treatment and further change to the regulations in this area is not required at present".