ICC Makes Sweeping Changes to Playing Conditions

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has recently approved a series of changes to the playing conditions in men's international cricket, including updates to the Boundary Law and the one-ball rule in ODIs from the 35th over.

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

While some of these modifications have already been implemented in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, the revised rules for white-ball formats will officially come into effect starting July 2.

The new playing conditions also include changes to concussion replacement processes, the DRS wicket zone and deliberate short runs. The changes were recommended by the ICC Men's Cricket Committee, headed by Sourav Ganguly and including playing participation in over 2000 international matches across its members.

Playing Conditions Changes

Stop Clock: After successful introduction in white-ball cricket, Test cricket will also see a stop clock, with the bowling team expected to be ready to bowl the first ball of their next over within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed. Failure to do so for the third time in an innings (following two warnings) will result in a five-run penalty imposed against the fielding team on each occasion. Two warning sanctions will be reset to zero after 80 overs have passed, in line with a new ball becoming available, and again after any future blocks of 80 overs in that innings.

Number of balls per ODI innings: Two new balls will be used for the first 34 overs of an ODI innings, after which the fielding team will choose one of the balls for the remaining overs.