ICC enforces key changes in all formats
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced several important changes to its playing conditions, which will apply across all formats of the men's game. These changes aim to improve the pace and fairness of play and will come into effect from July 2, 2025, for white-ball matches, while some are already active in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Stop clock introduced in Test cricket: After being trialled in limited-overs formats, the stop clock will now be used in Test matches to address slow over rates. The fielding team must be ready to start the next over within 60 seconds of the previous one ending. Umpires will give two warnings before awarding five penalty runs for each further delay. The countdown will reset every 80 overs and will be visible on screen.
Updated saliva rule: The ban on using saliva to shine the ball remains, but umpires will no longer need to change the ball immediately if saliva is applied accidentally. Instead, they will assess whether the condition of the ball has been affected. If the ball behaves unusually but hasn't changed significantly, five penalty runs will be given to the batting side, but the ball will not be replaced. New DRS dismissal protocol: A major change has been made to the Decision Review System (DRS). If a batter is given out caught, but replays show no bat involved, the third umpire will now check for a possible lbw dismissal. If ball-tracking shows the ball hitting the stumps and the decision falls under "umpire's call," the original out decision will still stand.
Catch review allowed on no-ball: If a no-ball is called during a delivery where a catch is taken, the TV umpire will still review the catch. If it's clean, the batting team will only get the run for the no-ball. If it's not a fair catch, the batting side will receive any completed runs as well. These changes are part of the ICC's efforts to modernise the game, make it more efficient, and ensure fairer play across formats.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
5 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Kusal Mendis steers Sri Lanka to commanding lead over Bangladesh
COLOMBO: Kusal Mendis struck a rapid 84 to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position on the third day of the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Friday. The aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman clubbed his runs from 87 balls, striking eight fours and two sixes, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 458, taking with an imposing first innings lead of 211. Visitors Bangladesh, who chose to bat first after winning the toss on Wednesday, were bowled out for a modest 247 in their first innings. Resuming on a strong overnight platform of 290-2, Sri Lanka wobbled before lunch, losing four wickets in the morning session, three of them to the second new ball. But Kusal Mendis dug in his heels steering Sri Lanka past the 450-run mark before running himself out, ninth wicket down, going for an unlikely second run. Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam wrapped up the innings four balls later to finish with 5-131, his 17th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Bangladesh's first breakthrough on the third day of the game came in just the sixth over of the day when Taijul Islam, handed the new ball, induced a loose drive from century-maker Pathum Nissanka, who chipped it tamely to short cover. New ICC rules target slow play, saliva use, two new balls, and DRS tweaks It was a soft end for the in-form opener, who hit a sublime 158 after a career-best 187 in the first Test in Galle. Taijul followed up with the wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva leg before for seven and when Nahid Rana had Prabath Jayasuriya edging to Mehidy Hasan Miraz at third slip for 10, Sri Lanka had slipped to 335-5. Kamindu Mendis made 33 during a sixth wicket partnership of 49 with Kusal Mendis who rallied the tail to put Sri Lanka firmly in control. Brief scores: Bangladesh: 247 (Shadman Islam 46, Mushfiqur Rahim 35; Sonal Dinusha 3-22, Asitha Fernando 3-51) Sri Lanka: 458 (Pathum Nissanka 158, Dinesh Chandimal 93, Kasul Mendis 84; Taijul Islam 5-131, Nayeem Hasan 3-87)
Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Express Tribune
ICC enforces key changes in all formats
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced several important changes to its playing conditions, which will apply across all formats of the men's game. These changes aim to improve the pace and fairness of play and will come into effect from July 2, 2025, for white-ball matches, while some are already active in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Stop clock introduced in Test cricket: After being trialled in limited-overs formats, the stop clock will now be used in Test matches to address slow over rates. The fielding team must be ready to start the next over within 60 seconds of the previous one ending. Umpires will give two warnings before awarding five penalty runs for each further delay. The countdown will reset every 80 overs and will be visible on screen. Updated saliva rule: The ban on using saliva to shine the ball remains, but umpires will no longer need to change the ball immediately if saliva is applied accidentally. Instead, they will assess whether the condition of the ball has been affected. If the ball behaves unusually but hasn't changed significantly, five penalty runs will be given to the batting side, but the ball will not be replaced. New DRS dismissal protocol: A major change has been made to the Decision Review System (DRS). If a batter is given out caught, but replays show no bat involved, the third umpire will now check for a possible lbw dismissal. If ball-tracking shows the ball hitting the stumps and the decision falls under "umpire's call," the original out decision will still stand. Catch review allowed on no-ball: If a no-ball is called during a delivery where a catch is taken, the TV umpire will still review the catch. If it's clean, the batting team will only get the run for the no-ball. If it's not a fair catch, the batting side will receive any completed runs as well. These changes are part of the ICC's efforts to modernise the game, make it more efficient, and ensure fairer play across formats.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
New ICC rules target slow play, saliva use, two new balls, and DRS tweaks
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a series of rule changes across formats, with several already in effect for the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, while white-ball changes will take effect from July 2. Key among the changes is the introduction of a stop clock in Test cricket, aimed at tackling slow over rates. Fielding teams must now begin a new over within 60 seconds of the previous one ending or face a five-run penalty after two warnings. The clock resets every 80 overs. In ODIs, only one ball will be used from the 35th over onward, and the mandatory ball change rule for saliva application has been relaxed. Umpires will now decide on a ball replacement only if its condition is visibly affected. ICC scraps 'unnecessary' soft signal ahead of WTC final The DRS protocol has also been modified. If a batter is initially given out caught and that decision is overturned, umpires will now proceed to assess secondary dismissals (like lbw) with the original 'out' label, meaning 'umpire's call' could still result in an out. Further, in combined reviews, decisions will now be taken chronologically. If a batter is found out on the first incident (e.g., lbw), any subsequent review (e.g., run out) becomes irrelevant as the ball is considered dead. Other updates include:
