From boundary catches to concussion protocols: ICC announces playing conditions changes across formats

THE International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a set of changes in regard to the use of balls in ODIs, boundary catches and concussion replacements for both Test and white-ball formats.

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One of the most significant being, in efforts to fasten the pace of the game and over rates, a stop clock to speed up the longest format.

The stop clock, already tried successfully in white-ball cricket, now become a permanent feature in Tests. Fielding sides will be required to begin a new over within 60 seconds of completing the previous one. Failure to comply will lead to penalties, two warnings per innings, followed by a five-run penalty for every subsequent breach. These warnings will reset after every 80 overs, in line with the availability of a new ball.

This change is designed to reduce delays and encourage faster over rates, a long-standing concern in Test cricket.

In One Day Internationals, the use of two balls will be limited to the first 34 overs. The fielding team will then select one of those balls for the final 16 overs.