The International Cricket Council (ICC) will implement revised playing conditions from June for Test matches and July for white-ball games, listing significant changes, which including the return to a single ball in One Day Internationals (ODIs), altered concussion replacement rules, and adjustments to boundary line catches and DRS clauses.
The most notable change is concerned with ODI matches, where the current two-ball system will soon be phased out. While innings will still begin with two new balls, only one will be used after the 34th over, reports Cricbuzz.
Informing its members of the particulars in the implementation for the new ball rule, the ICC reportedly announced, “There will be two new balls for overs 1 to 34. After over 34 is completed and prior to the start of over 35, the fielding team will choose one of the two balls to be used for overs 35 to 50. The chosen ball will be used at both ends for the remainder of the match (unless it needs to be changed).”
The specialised provisions by the ruling body for shorter matches specify that in a match reduced to 25 overs or less per side before the first innings commences, each team shall have only one new ball for its Innings.
As for ball replacement, “A replacement ball at any time during the innings will be one of similar conditions to the ball that needs to be replaced.
Note that the ball not used for overs 35 to 50 in the match will be added to the replacement ball supply,” said the ICC.
The concussion replacement rules will see significant modifications, requiring teams to nominate five specific players: a wicketkeeper, batter, seam bowler, spinner, and all-rounder ahead of the match.
However, there are exceptional circumstances with regard to concussion replacements, where, “Under an exceptional and rare circumstance whereby a replacement concussion player gets concussed and needs to be replaced, the match referee will deal with the situation and consider a replacement outside of the five nominated replacement players. The existing like-for-like protocols will apply in this situation.”
The implementation timeline for these changes stipulate that the World Test Championship (WTC) final between Australia and South Africa at Lord’s on June 11 will follow existing rules, with the new rules coming into practice in the new WTC cycle. The Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Test series starting June 17 in Galle marks the commencement of the same.
For white-ball cricket too, the changes will begin with the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh series, starting July 2 and T20I changes will be implemented from July 10 in Colombo.
While initially being under consideration for review by a working group, the Chief Executives Committee (CEC) has now approved these modifications directly. A new working group, yet to be formed, will focus on determining the format for the Under 19 World Cup, as to whether it will be played in the T20, 50-over, or hybrid format. This group is expected to be established before the Annual Conference in Singapore, scheduled for July 17-20.
The ICC will provide additional details about the changes to boundary line catches and DRS protocols at a later date.
-With Agencies inputs
