westoelad wrote:Athers reporting that it's up to the medics if Leach plays and they're liable to err on the side of caution. If so, I'd bring in Brook and rely on Root for the spin option.
All concussion protocols now are handed over to head trauma doctors, who have a duty to go through a graduated return to physical activity. Once a doctor says the symptoms have disappeared, the player then has to rest from all forms of physical activity for a period (1-2 days I think), after which they have several tests of increasing technicality/physicality to test their cognitive and physical recovery. The tests start very basic to ensure if a player still displays more difficult to identify symptoms, he isnt at risk from further injury.
So, to start its a light jog or some stretches, check the player has no balance issues. Then it goes to a longer jog to see if increase heart rate leads to problems. Then thinks like slow catching practice.... as each stage is passed the length and intensity increases, until the end stage, which would be a tough physical work out followed by bowling to a batsman in the nets, or receiving full paced deliveries.
Judging on other sports, especially the NFL (which I believe is where the ECB copied this system from), its usually a minimum of about 1 week recovery from the injury diagnosis to being passed fully fit. And that assumes the initial flagged issue was over cautious.
Patrick Mahomes for instance got a whack before an NFL playoff game recently, and was back playing the next week ... the hit he got up shaky and dizzy triggered the concussion protocol, but he had no concussion when assessed by a doctor. Still it took a week to go through the proof and get out the protocol.
Anyone actually diagnosed after the event is usually out a minimum of 2 weeks, judging on watching a lot of NFL.
Its highly unlikely he would play a part in the next games in this series.
