SHOULD THE RUNNER MAKE A COMEBACK IN CRICKET?

The injury that hampered Vihari was evident enough that fans, who had overlooked the demolition of the runner rule in the event of an injured batsman who would not run for himself...

- SREELATA S. YELLAMRAZU

One of the more challenging questions posed before the International Cricket Council (ICC) in light of Hanuma Vihari’s brilliant efforts in the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground was the question of whether the runner should make a comeback.

Given that there are now concussion substitutes and coronavirus substitutes, why not reinstitute the traditional cricket concept of the runner? After all, Vihari’s hamstring strain was evident to one and all. Yet the Indian batsman soldiered on, batting out more balls than is expected of batsmen in the era of Twenty20.