The return to a single ball in ODIs is one of the new playing conditions that the International Cricket Council (ICC) will begin enforcing next month. The ICC informed its members in a communique that the updated Playing Conditions (PCs) will be implemented immediately, starting in June for Test matches and in July for international white ball matches.
Aside from modest modifications to the DRS provisions and boundary line catches, there will also be tweaks to the concussion replacement rules.
The choice to gradually remove the second ball from the ODIs is especially important. The 50-over matches now include two fresh balls every innings. According to the updated PCs, the game will end with just one ball, but there will be two new balls at the beginning. Cricbuzz was the first to report on this anticipated rule change on May 30.
“For overs 1 through 34, there will be two additional balls. The fielding team will select one of the two balls to be used for overs 35 to 50 after over 34 is finished and before over 35 begins. “Unless it needs to be changed, the selected ball will be used at both ends for the rest of the match,” the ICC told the members. “In a match reduced to 25 overs or less per side before the first innings commences, each team shall have only one new ball for its Innings.”
The ICC clarified that certain current playing conditions had not altered.
“A replacement ball will be in similar condition to the one that needs to be changed at any point during the innings. Please take note that the ball that is not used during the match’s overs 35–50 will be added to the supply of replacement balls.
The concussion regulations will also undergo some changes. Before a game begins, the referee will need to get the names of five players who will be substituted for players who have suffered concussions. They are an all-rounder, a seam bowler, a batter, a wicketkeeper, and a spinner.
When a replacement player has a concussion and needs to be replaced, the match referee will handle the matter and look at a substitute who is not one of the five designated replacement players, according to the ICC. In this case, the current like-for-like procedures will be used. The ICC statement also stated that DRS methods and boundary line catch rule modifications will be communicated later.
The World Test Championship (WTC) final between Australia and South Africa will begin on June 11 at Lord’s under the current regulations. The next WTC cycle will mark the implementation of the new PCs. Specifically, the regulations will take effect on June 17 in Galle for the first Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (which is a part of the WTC cycle).
The white ball substitutions from the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka series will also be used. The T20Is will use the modifications from the first match between the same nations on July 10 in Colombo, while the ODI PCs will be modified from the first ODI between the nations on July 2.
At first, it was believed that the suggested changes would be sent to a working group; however, it has since been revealed that the revisions have been approved by the Chief Executives Committee (CEC). Whether the Under 19 World Cup be played in T20, 50-over, or hybrid forms will be decided by the working group, which has not yet been established. It is anticipated that the working group will be established prior to the Annual Conference, which will take place in Singapore from July 17–20.
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