An ordinary substitute fielder can cover a player’s fielding duties after the umpire gives permission, but that permission does not make the substitute a complete replacement. The substitute cannot bowl or act as captain, and wicketkeeping needs the umpire’s consent. This article addresses only the ordinary substitute position under MCC Law 24.1.
Hypothetical situation: temporary fielding replacement
Imagine that a listed player is injured during a match and cannot field for a period. The captain asks the umpire to approve an ordinary substitute. The umpire agrees, so the substitute may take the injured player’s fielding position. The approval is limited to fielding; it does not automatically transfer every playing role.
For a match-record check, retain the approval category alongside the person’s name. A changed shirt number or a new face on a broadcast does not identify which replacement procedure was used. If the record omits that category, mark it unknown rather than applying an ordinary-substitute rule to an unidentified special replacement.
What each request produces
| Request | Result in the example | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Substitute fields | Allowed after umpire permission | This is the ordinary substitute’s permitted role. |
| Substitute bowls | Not allowed | Fielding approval does not authorise bowling. |
| Substitute keeps wicket | Allowed only if the umpire consents | Wicketkeeping needs separate approval. |
Why the captaincy request fails
In the same hypothetical, the captain asks the substitute to lead the side while the original player is absent. The result is no: an ordinary substitute cannot captain. The team must use the captain or another permitted player under the applicable playing conditions; this article does not determine who may replace a captain.
These conclusions concern ordinary substitutes only. Tournament-specific concussion replacements, Impact Player systems, and other special replacement arrangements are separate matters and may contain different conditions. They are not used here to infer batting rights or wider eligibility.