DUBAI:
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to roll out updated playing conditions starting next month, with one of the most notable changes being the return to a single ball in One Day Internationals (ODIs), according to Indian media reports on Saturday.
In a communication to its member boards, the ICC confirmed that the revised playing conditions will take effect from June for Test matches and from July for international white-ball cricket.
Among the key changes are adjustments to the concussion substitution policy, tweaks to boundary catch interpretations, and updates to the Decision Review System (DRS) protocols. However, the standout change is the move away from the two-new-ball system currently used in ODIs.
Under the current format, each 50-over innings begins with two brand-new balls—one from each end—which has often been criticized for reducing spin and reverse swing from the game. The ICC’s revised rule will see two balls used only for the first 34 overs. From the 35th over onward, the fielding team will select one of the two balls to use from both ends for the remainder of the innings.
“There will be two new balls for overs 1 to 34,” the ICC stated in its note to member boards, as cited by Indian media. “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).”
For ODIs reduced to 25 overs or fewer before the start of the first innings, only one new ball will be used per innings. Any ball not selected for use after the 34th over will be kept as a potential replacement, provided it matches the wear and tear of the one being replaced.
Changes have also been made to the concussion substitute policy. Teams must now name five designated concussion substitutes before each match—one batter, one wicketkeeper, one spinner, one seamer, and one all-rounder. In exceptional cases, where a concussion substitute also sustains a concussion, the match referee will have the authority to approve a like-for-like replacement from outside the pre-declared list.
Additional updates to rules surrounding boundary catches and DRS procedures are expected to be detailed in the coming weeks.
The existing playing conditions will remain in place for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa, scheduled to begin on June 11 at Lord’s. The new regulations will be introduced with the start of the next WTC cycle during the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Test in Galle on June 17.
White-ball rule changes will debut during the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh ODI series beginning July 2 in Colombo, with corresponding T20I updates rolling out from July 10.
Though initial speculation suggested a working group would assess these changes, it has now been confirmed that the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) has formally approved the new playing conditions.
Meanwhile, a separate working group will be formed ahead of the ICC Annual Conference in Singapore (July 17–20) to evaluate the future format of the ICC Under-19 World Cup, which could see a shift to a T20, 50-over, or hybrid structure.