The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed a series of major rule changes impacting all three formats of the game. While some updates are already in effect, those specific to white-ball cricket will officially come into force from July 2.
Below is a breakdown of the key changes introduced:
Stop Clock Now Applies to Test Cricket
Having already trialed the stop clock in white-ball formats, the ICC has now extended its use to Test matches. Under this rule, the fielding team must begin a new over within 60 seconds of the previous one ending.
Penalties: Teams will receive two warnings for delays. A third infringement will result in a five-run penalty against the fielding side.
Umpires Granted Sole Authority on Ball Changes
Teams will no longer be allowed to request a ball change due to the use of saliva – an act already banned post-COVID. Match officials now have exclusive authority to assess the ball’s condition and decide on replacements.
DRS Adjusted for Secondary Reviews (LBW after Caught Behind)
Under the revised DRS protocol:
If a batter is initially given out caught behind, but the ball is later shown to have only brushed the pad, the ball-tracking for LBW will be assessed.
Even if HawkEye shows “umpire’s call”, the batter will now be given out in such cases.
This change ensures greater consistency in secondary review outcomes.
Chronological Decision-Making for Combined Reviews
In situations where multiple appeals occur in a single delivery (e.g., an LBW followed by a run-out), the TV umpire will assess the appeals in the order they occurred. This helps maintain procedural clarity during reviews.
Fairness of Catches Still Matters on No-Balls
If a delivery is a no-ball, and the on-field umpires are unsure about the legality of a catch, the third umpire must still review the catch’s fairness.
Clean Catch: Only 1 run is awarded (for the no-ball).
Not a Clean Catch: The batting side gets all completed runs.
This ensures fair outcomes even when the ball is deemed illegal.
Stricter Sanctions for Deliberate ‘Short Runs’
If a batter intentionally runs short to gain an unfair advantage:
The fielding team will be allowed to choose who takes strike next.
The batting team will also be penalized 5 runs.
This change aims to uphold the spirit of the game and prevent manipulation of strike.
Like-for-Like Replacements in First-Class Matches
For the first time, the ICC has permitted like-for-like substitutions in first-class cricket, including Tests, in the case of external injuries (e.g., a blow to the head or other serious conditions).
Replacements will only be allowed after a formal assessment by match officials.
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