A REPORT into the death of Phillip Hughes has recommended that concussion substitutes be introduced into domestic cricket.

The ICC will consider the request at their next meeting later this month and it could be the first step towards replacement players becoming part of international cricket as well.

It would be a landmark change to cricket rules, and allow the game to follow a similar approach to the concussion rules implemented by the NRL and other contact sports.

An independent review commissioned by Cricket Australia today revealed that Hughes received appropriate treatment after being struck in the head by a ball on that fateful day at the SCG back in November 2014.

The report handed down by David Curtain CQ said that the now-mandated British Standard helmet (which Hughes wasn’t wearing) wouldn’t have saved the Test opener.

It also refused to fully endorse the invention of stem-guard neck protectors as a proven way of preventing a similar tragedy in the future, recommending that more research be carried out.

The report stated that a defibrillator must be available at all Cricket Australia sanctioned competitions in the event a player suffers from a heart condition.

Cricket Australia’s medical staff will remain in control over whether players stay on the field or come off after receiving knocks to the head.

However, the potential introduction of concussion substitutes could go a long way to improving player safety while not interrupting the fabric of a first-class match.

THE HUGHES REPORT AT A GLANCE Hughes received adequate medical attention at the time of the incident. Hughes was wearing a helmet which doesn’t meet recently-introduced British standards, but the newer helmet wouldn’t have saved him. Recommends all first-class cricketers be compelled to wear helmets when batting against medium or fast-paced bowling, in nets and games. Recommends all close-in fielders, barring slips, be compelled to wear helmets. Recommends wicketkeepers be compelled to wear protective eye-wear and head-wear.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the “global cricket community was deeply saddened” by Hughes’ death.

He said Cricket Australia endorsed the Curtain Report, and by “natural extension” the recommendation of a substitute at domestic level could impact the highest level of cricket.

Sutherland said the discussion would also broaden beyond concussion to other injuries but is unsure how a replacement player would play out practically.

“Whilst we support this recommendation being explored, I think it needs to be fully discussed and socialised,” Sutherland said today.

“One of the fundamentals of the game of cricket is it’s a game of 11 players and a substitute has not been allowed in the past.

“We need to work through all of the machinations of that possibility. But the fundamental issue here is the desire for medical staff to have the ultimate say in an incident of concussion.

“It remains to be seen how that discussion will go, but I think it’s complicated and it needs to be thought through.

“It’s not just a simple issue about health and issue, it’s also about some of the fundamentals in terms of the way the game has played and has always been played.”

Cricket Australia’s sports science and medicine manager Alex Kountouris said only a “handful” of concussions occurred in each competition every season.

“We’ve put it to the ICC that we want to trial (a concussion substitute) and see what impact it has,” Kountouris said.

“Does it make it that much easier for the medical staff to take a player off the field when they have concussion?

“We want to give it a go at whatever level possible — whether it’s first class cricket or white-ball cricket — and see if it has an impact on how we manage concussion.”

The proposal will be discussed at the ICC’s cricket committee meeting at the end of May.

Sutherland said Cricket Australia received Mr Curtain’s review last season and had since then been considering his recommendations.

“While there will always be a small risk we believe that the measures we have already taken and will enact following this review will reduce that risk even further.”

Sutherland also said Cricket Australia would co-operate fully with the coronial inquest into Phillip Hughes’ death which is likely scheduled for October this year.

“We have had ongoing open dialogue with the New South Wales Crown Solicitor and have indicated that we will be as cooperative as possible with any coronial inquest,” Sutherland said.

“Never again do we want to see a tragedy of that nature happen on a cricket field and we have shared the findings of this review with the coroner,” concluded Mr Sutherland.