ICC makes major changes in new rules and playing conditions of international cricket

In what seems to be a big development in the rules and playing conditions of the game, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced some major changes which will be effective in international cricket. These amendments in the rules were recommended by the Sourav Ganguly-led ICC Men’s Cricket Committee.

The new rules and playing conditions will bring a big change in the concussion replacements, alongside the wicket zone in a DRS call, and short runs taken deliberately.

In a major change, ICC has introduced a stop clock in Test cricket, after its successful execution in white-ball cricket. Now, the fielding side in a Test match will need to be prepared for the next over within 60 seconds after the completion of the previous over.

The ‘failure to do so’ will not be allowed for any team more than two times. if they fail to bowl the next over within the 60 seconds for the third time in the same match, five runs will be awarded to the batting side.

“Two warning sanctions will be reset to zero after 80 overs have passed, in line with a new ball becoming available, and again after any future blocks of 80 overs in that innings,” says the new rule from the ICC.

Balls in ODI and boundary-line catches

Apart from this, it has also been introduced that there will be two new balls for the first 34 overs in an innings of an ODI or a 50-over game. Following 34 overs, it will be up to the fielding side to decide a ball to use for the remaining overs; the ball will be picked out of the two balls used till 34 overs.

The apex governing body of cricket has also made a big rule change, specifically in the catches near the boundary line or the airborne catches beyond the boundary line. Now, a fielder can touch the ball once while being airborne beyond the boundary and to get it called a fair catch, he would have to be within the boundary line to catch or touch the ball again.

The new rules and playing conditions in Tests have been effective since 17 June, with the World Test Championship's new cycle, which started with the game between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The rules in white-ball cricket will also be effective with the first ODI between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on July.