Two new-ball rule partially scrapped in ODIs, wide-ball tweak to be trialed as ICC makes sweeping changes to white-ball playing conditions
The contentious two new-ball rule in ODIs and a potentially radical tweak in the wide-ball rule are among the many changes that the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced to its playing conditions for white-ball cricket Friday. The council is also set to introduce a seven-day stand-down for players diagnosed with concussion and teams will be required to to nominate their designated concussion replacements for the match.
The ICC said that the position of the batter's leg at the point of delivery will now be used as the reference point for a wide, even if the batter subsequently moves across to the off side. 'The trial will see a ball that passes the popping crease between the leg stump and the protected area marker not being called a Wide. To help with this, the protected area marker line will be extended to the popping crease and act as a guide for the umpires,' says the ICC in its statement. 'Any leg side delivery that passes behind the batter's legs and outside of the line at the time the ball reaches the popping crease may still be called a Wide.'
While the ICC will continue with bowling teams being given two new balls at the start of an ODI innings, they will be given a choice to pick any one of those to use for the rest of it after the first 34 overs.
In context of concussion protocols, the ICC said there are two changes. Teams will now have to nominate designated concussion replacements for every match, which is being brought in to curb the home team's advantage of being able to select from a larger group of players. The ICC also announced a 'minimum seven-day stand-down' period for any player diagnosed with concussion.
'A player diagnosed with a concussion during a match must observe a minimum stand-down period of a minimum of seven days before returning to play. This change has been recommended by the ICC Medical Advisory Committee to support players' safety and well-being,' the ICC said.
Cricket's global governing body said on its website that the new playing conditions for Tests were implemented with the start of the new World Test Championship cycle for 2025-2027 with Sri Lanka taking on Bangladesh in first Test at Galle from June 17-21. The upcoming limited-overs series between the two countries will mark the start dates for new playing conditions for ODIs and T20Is.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will play a three-match ODI series from July 2 and then move on to a three-match T20I rubber from July 10.
Another rule to be trialled is for domestic First-Class cricket, in which teams can now name replacements for a player who suffers a 'serious injury' after being picked in the XI. 'A player who suffers a serious injury on the field of play at any time after the match has started (including any pre-match warm-up period) may be replaced for the remainder of the match by a fully participating like-for-like player,' the ICC said.
For the DRS dismissals, the ICC said wicket zone will now be the actual outline of the stumps and bails. The governing body has also announced other major changes like bringing in stop-clock in Test cricket, a change in rule for boundary catches, and a move back to having only one ball after the 34th-over mark in ODIs.
With agency inputs
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