Another first in day-night Test: Masseur turns Australian fielder

Adelaide, Nov 27: In the historic day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand here at the Adelaide Oval today, the hosts employed a masseur as their substitute fielder making it another first in the landmark match.

All you need to know about day-night Test;

Friday (November 27) marked the beginning of first-ever day-night Test. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and elected to bat. However, the visitors' batsmen found it tough against Australian bowlers as they were bowled out for 202. At stumps, the hosts were 54/2.

In first day's final session, played fully under floodlights, Australia called in their masseur and logistics coordinator Grant Baldwin as substitute fieldsman. He replaced paceman Mitchell Starc, who left the left due to ankle injury. (Day 1 report)

Cricket Australia's (CA) Twitter page wrote, "Grant Baldwin is the team masseur and logistics coordinator, currently fielding in the #DayNightTest! #AUSvNZ."

According to International Cricket Council's (ICC) Test match Playing Conditions, those nominated as substitute players can replace the fielders in case of injuries.

However, in exceptional cases, teams can use others. There have been instances in international matches where sides have called up players outside of the squad and also from the coaching staff. Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, as a 13-year-old, had fielded for Pakistan in a festival match against India at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium in 1987.

"I don't know whether Imran Khan remembers this or has any idea that I once fielded for his Pakistan team," Tendulkar had written in his book "Playing It My Way".

Last year, injury-hit England had named their assistant coach and former captain Paul Collingwood as a substitute player for a ODI against West Indies.

What ICC rule says on substitute players for Tests

"Only those nominated as substitute fielders shall be entitled to act as substitute fielders during the match, unless the ICC Match Referee, in exceptional circumstances, allows subsequent additions.

"1.2.3 All those nominated including those nominated as substitute fielders, must be eligible to play for that particular team and by such nomination the nominees shall warrant that they are so eligible.

"1.2.4 In addition, by their nomination, the nominees shall be deemed to have agreed to abide by all the applicable ICC Regulations pertaining to international cricket and in particular, the Clothing and Equipment Regulations, the Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel (hereafter referred to as the ICC Code of Conduct), the Anti-Racism Code for Players and Player Support Personnel, the Anti-Doping Code and the Anti-Corruption Code."

Grant Baldwin is the team masseur and logistics coordinator, currently fielding in the #DayNightTest! #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/eZiLldfW3D

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 27, 2015

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