ICC Introduces New Playing Conditions Across Formats: Key Changes Explained

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled a series of major updates to its playing conditions across all three formats of the game, aimed at making cricket fairer, faster, and more transparent. While several of these changes have already come into force with the start of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, the modifications concerning white-ball cricket will officially be implemented from July 2, 2025.

Stop Clock Comes To Test Cricket

One of the most notable changes is the introduction of the stop clock in Test cricket. After successfully trialing the rule in ODIs and T20Is over the past year, the ICC has now extended it to the longest format to address persistent concerns over slow over rates.

According to the new condition, the fielding side must be ready to start the next over within 60 seconds of the previous one ending. If they fail to do so, umpires will issue up to two warnings. Further delays will attract a five-run penalty against the bowling side.

Interestingly, the warning count will reset after every 80 overs—coinciding with the new ball availability—and the countdown itself will be visibly tracked from 0 to 60 seconds, bringing accountability and added urgency to the fielding side.

Saliva Rule Relaxed — No Mandatory Ball Change

Another significant update concerns the long-standing ban on saliva. While the prohibition remains in place, the ICC has eased the protocol around ball changes in such scenarios. Umpires are no longer required to automatically replace the ball if saliva is applied. Instead, they now have the discretion to assess whether the ball’s condition has changed significantly.

If they find the ball unaffected, it will stay in play even if it begins to behave unusually. However, if the use of saliva is judged to be deliberate, the batting team will be awarded five penalty runs. The intent behind this change is to prevent teams from deliberately attempting to engineer ball changes through illegal means.

DRS: Secondary Mode Of Dismissal Now Fair Game

The ICC has also brought a critical tweak to the Decision Review System (DRS), particularly in scenarios where multiple modes of dismissal are involved. If a batter is initially given out caught behind and reviews the decision, and it is revealed that the ball did not hit the bat, the TV umpire can now proceed to check for LBW even if it was not originally appealed.

Crucially, the “original decision” label in the ball-tracking for this secondary mode will still read “out,” meaning if it results in an “umpire’s call,” the batter will still be dismissed. This represents a departure from the previous standard, where ambiguity would lead to a default “not out” verdict in such cases.

Combined Reviews To Follow Chronological Order

The protocol for handling combined reviews has also been revised. Previously, in cases involving both umpire and player reviews—such as a possible LBW followed by a run out—the umpire’s referral would be processed first, sometimes leading to confusion.

Now, the ICC has clarified that the reviews will be adjudicated in the order in which the events occurred on the field. For instance, if an LBW appeal comes before a run-out attempt, the TV umpire must address the LBW first.

If the batter is out as per the first incident, then the second is disregarded, as the ball would be considered dead at that point. This aims to bring greater coherence and logic to decision-making in real-time scenarios.

Fairness Of Catch Reviewed Even On No-Balls

In a subtle but important update, the fairness of catches will now be reviewed even if the delivery is later ruled a no-ball. Previously, once a no-ball was signaled, the legality of the catch was no longer examined. Under the new rule, however, the third umpire must assess whether the catch was clean.

If it was, the batting side will only receive the additional run for the no-ball. But if the catch wasn’t legitimate, the batting team will be awarded all the runs completed before the umpire’s signal. This change enhances consistency in evaluating the outcome of each delivery, irrespective of its legality.

New Sanction For Deliberate Short Runs

The ICC has also updated the penalties for deliberate short runs. While the five-run penalty remains in place for any batter found to be intentionally running short to steal an extra run, a new provision has been added. The fielding side will now have the right to choose which batter faces the next delivery.

This change is designed to prevent the manipulation of strike through illegal running. Umpires, however, will retain the authority to distinguish between deliberate attempts and aborted runs without intent to deceive.

Trial Of Full-Time Playing Replacements In First-Class Cricket

On the domestic front, the ICC is encouraging member boards to trial the concept of full-time playing replacements in first-class cricket. This initiative aims to support player welfare in the case of serious, visible injuries—such as fractures or external wounds—that render a player unfit to continue.

Much like the current concussion substitute rule, the replacement must be like-for-like. However, players with internal issues like muscle pulls or cramps will not be eligible for substitution under this provision. It’s a step towards maintaining competitive balance when teams lose key players due to unforeseen and unavoidable incidents.

One Ball From The 35th Over In ODIs & Updated Boundary Law

Finally, among the key white-ball changes taking effect from July 2, ODIs will revert to using a single ball from the 35th over onward, as opposed to the two-ball system that was introduced in 2011. This is expected to help restore the art of reverse swing and better balance the contest between bat and ball.

Additionally, the ICC has updated the Boundary Law to more precisely define when a batter is considered to have cleared the ropes, ensuring clearer rulings in tight scoring situations.