The International Cricket Council (ICC) is going to make major changes to the rules of cricket. There will be some amendments in every format, which will come into effect from the 2025-26 cricket season. In Test cricket, these rules will come into effect from June 2025, before the start of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle, while the changes in ODIs and T20 Internationals will be effective from July.
Two new balls have been used in the ODI format since the 2011 ODI World Cup. But this has made it difficult for spinners to stay in the game due to a lack of reverse swing and fast batting. In view of these concerns, the ICC has decided to reintroduce the rule of using one ball in ODIs, as was the case before 2011. This change will not only benefit the bowlers, but it is also an attempt to bring balance to the game.
Which rule will change in ODI cricket?
According to the report, two balls will no longer be used for the entire 50 overs in ODI cricket. For the last several years, new balls have been used from both ends. In this way, till 50 overs, the balls were only 25 overs old, which did not help the fast bowlers in reverse swing.
But according to the ICC’s new rules coming into effect from July 2025, two balls will be used for 17-17 overs, but only one ball will be used from the 35th over, which will be selected by the fielding team and its captain. The ICC has given such information to the member countries. If the match is of 25 overs or less, then only one ball will be used in an innings.
ICC to Finalize Updates on Boundary Line and DRS Regulations Soon
According to the ICC, some changes are also being made in the concussion substitute rules. Teams will have to inform the match referee about the names of five concussion replacement players before the match starts. These will include a wicketkeeper, a batsman, a seam bowler, a spinner, and an all-rounder. If a player gets a head injury during the match, he will be replaced with a similar player. Till now, this rule has been misused, in which even the batsman used to come on the field if the bowler got injured. The match referee can give some relaxation in this.
The situation regarding the boundary line and DRS will soon be clear as to what changes are to be made in them. These rules will be implemented in Test cricket after the final of the World Test Championship 2025, when the Test series will be played between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from June 17. At the same time, the new rules will be implemented in ODI International cricket from July, when the ODI series will be played between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The ODI series will start from July 2 in Colombo.
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