The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled significant updates to playing conditions in men’s international cricket, affecting both equipment use and player safety regulations. These reforms, cleared by the Cricket and Chief Executives Committees, will be implemented starting mid-June, with adjustments tailored separately for Test matches, ODIs, and T20 Internationals.
One of the most notable amendments concerns the use of two balls in One Day Internationals. Traditionally, each end of an ODI innings began with a fresh ball—reducing wear, maintaining bounce, and offering consistent swing. This setup, while advantageous for batters, has long been viewed as a disadvantage for bowlers, particularly during the death overs when reverse swing plays a key role.
Under the new structure, dual new balls will continue to be used from the outset but only up to the 34th over. From the 35th over onward, just one of the two will remain in play—selected by the bowling side—for the rest of the innings. This alteration is expected to encourage more ball deterioration, aiding bowlers with reverse swing in the latter part of the game. For matches scheduled for 25 overs or fewer before the first innings begins, only a single ball will be used for the entire innings.
These changes will take effect in the upcoming Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh series, marking the first implementation of the revised ODI ball rule.
The ICC has also tightened concussion management regulations across all formats. Going forward, each team must present a list of five designated replacements before every international fixture. These substitutes must cover critical playing roles—specifically, a backup wicketkeeper, a top-order batter, a pacer, a spinner, and an all-rounder.
In the event a player sustains a concussion, teams must draw from this pre-declared pool to make a like-for-like swap. If an exceptional case arises—such as the substitute also suffering a concussion—the match referee retains the discretion to approve a different replacement, provided role parity is maintained.
This move comes in the wake of earlier disputes, such as India’s substitution of Shivam Dube with Harshit Rana, which raised eyebrows for role mismatch during a T20I against England.
Furthermore, changes have also been made regarding catches on the boundary. The controversial maneuver involving a fielder leaping from beyond the ropes to complete a catch mid-air—popularly known as the “bunny hop” technique—has now been prohibited. The goal is to preserve simplicity and fairness in fielding decisions near the boundary line.
These comprehensive changes are set to reshape strategy, particularly in the limited-overs format, while bolstering transparency and fairness in team selections and safety protocols.
