ICC Updates Playing Conditions Across All Formats of the Game

Cricket is set for a rulebook refresh, as the ICC unveils sweeping changes to playing conditions across formats—tweaking long-standing norms and tightening grey areas to better suit the modern game.

From introducing stop clocks in Tests to adjusting ball usage in ODIs and refining the rules around boundary catches, the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) latest overhaul reflects a determined effort to modernise the sport and enhance fairness, pace, and player safety. These revisions, proposed by the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee chaired by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, are built on deep consultation and player feedback, with inputs from cricketers who have collectively featured in over 2,000 international matches.

Among the most significant changes is the introduction of a stop clock in Test cricket. Fielding teams will now have 60 seconds to be ready to bowl the first ball of the next over after the previous one concludes. Teams will be given two warnings for delays, but from the third infringement onward, a five-run penalty will be imposed on each occasion. To maintain balance, the slate of warnings resets after every 80 overs—aligning with the availability of a new ball. Already trialled successfully in white-ball formats, this rule is expected to encourage quicker over rates and eliminate avoidable lags in play.

One Day Internationals are also set for a significant shift, with the ICC moving away from the decade-long two-ball policy. Currently, one new ball is used from each end throughout the 50 overs. Under the revised rules, two new balls will continue to be used for the first 34 overs. From the 35th over onwards, the fielding side will choose one of the two balls to be used for the remaining overs. This change aims to bring back some wear on the ball and the potential for reverse swing in the latter stages of an innings, which many felt was lost under the twin-ball rule.

The ICC has also tightened rules around boundary catches. Under the new condition, a fielder who makes airborne contact with the ball outside the boundary must land entirely within the field of play to complete a legal catch. A player may make contact with the ball a second time while airborne outside the boundary, but must then return and remain within the field of play to finalise the catch. This revision eliminates any grey areas around spectacular but controversial boundary relay catches and will be implemented in international cricket ahead of being formally written into the MCC Laws in 2026.

Deliberate short runs, long viewed as a tactical loophole, will now carry additional penalties. The existing five-run penalty will remain in place, but fielding teams will now also be allowed to choose which batter takes strike for the next delivery. The move gives fielding sides more control and disincentivises attempts to manipulate the strike through intentional infractions.

Another technical update involves the Decision Review System (DRS). The “wicket zone” for LBW reviews has now been expanded to include the full outline of the stumps and bails, rather than just the stump edges. This change could slightly tilt the balance in favour of bowlers, particularly in marginal decisions, and reduce inconsistencies in review outcomes.

Player safety has also been prioritised in the updated concussion protocols. Teams will now be required to nominate their designated concussion substitutes ahead of the match, ensuring parity between home and touring teams in terms of available replacements. More importantly, any player diagnosed with a concussion during a game must observe a mandatory minimum stand-down period of seven days before returning to play. This new policy, endorsed by the ICC Medical Advisory Committee, aligns with global best practices in sports medicine and places player well-being at the forefront.

Looking ahead, the ICC has also announced two trials to be rolled out from October 2025 for an initial six-month period. The first relates to injury replacements in first-class domestic cricket. Under this trial, players who suffer serious injuries after the match has begun—or even during warm-ups—can be replaced by a fully participating like-for-like substitute for the remainder of the match. The second trial will test a new interpretation of the wide ball rule in ODIs and T20Is. In situations where the batter moves laterally across the crease, the wide call will be judged based on their position at the moment of delivery, not their original stance. Additionally, a protected area marker line will be extended to the popping crease to guide umpires in these assessments.

The new playing conditions have already come into effect in the World Test Championship, beginning with the Sri Lanka–Bangladesh Test on June 17, 2025. The revised ODI and T20I rules will be introduced from July 2, with the first ODI of the Sri Lanka–Bangladesh series, followed by a T20I series starting July 10. All international matches from these dates onward will follow the new playing conditions.

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