The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced sweeping changes to playing conditions across all three formats of the game, aimed at improving fairness, player welfare, and match efficiency. The new rules, which were approved by the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee, will take effect from July 2, 2025, for white-ball matches, while the adjustments for Test cricket are already in place for the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
The most headline-grabbing change is the introduction of a stop-clock rule in Test matches, a move designed to combat slow over rates and keep games moving at a brisker pace.
Stop-Clock Comes to Test Cricket
In a first for the longest format, fielding teams must now be ready to start a new over within 60 seconds of the previous one finishing. If a team fails to comply, they will receive up to two warnings per innings. Any further breaches will result in a five-run penalty, a significant deterrent designed to prevent deliberate time-wasting.
The stop-clock, which has already been trialed successfully in white-ball cricket, will now feature in the traditional five-day game for the first time.
Ball Change Relaxed After Saliva Ban
While the ban on using saliva to shine the ball remains in place — a precaution introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic — the automatic changing of the ball if saliva is accidentally applied has been scrapped. Now, umpires have the discretion to assess the ball’s condition and only replace it if they deem it has been unfairly altered. Should the ball behave abnormally without visible alteration, the batting side will be awarded five penalty runs, but the ball will remain in play.
DRS Tweaks to Catch and LBW Reviews
Another notable change relates to the Decision Review System (DRS). In scenarios where a team reviews a caught-behind dismissal and there’s no evidence of bat contact, the system will now automatically check for LBW possibilities. Importantly, if the LBW review returns an “umpire’s call,” the batter will be given out, closing a previous loophole that allowed such batters to survive.
Multiple Appeals Ordered by Occurrence
The ICC has also addressed confusion around multiple, simultaneous appeals. In cases where more than one mode of dismissal is appealed — such as an LBW followed by a run-out — the TV umpire will now consider them in the sequence they occurred, with the first valid dismissal ending the process.
Fair Catch Decisions Despite No-Balls
If a batter is caught but a no-ball is called, the third umpire will still assess whether the catch was fair. If the catch was clean, the batting side only receives the run for the no-ball, without further completed runs being counted. If the catch was not fair, all completed runs will count.
Deliberate Short Runs Penalized with Added Twist
Deliberate short runs by the batting side will continue to attract a five-run penalty, but the fielding team’s captain will now get to choose which batter faces the next delivery — a tactical advantage in tight situations.
Full-Time Injury Substitutes in Domestic First-Class Cricket
National cricket boards have also been granted the option to trial like-for-like injury substitutes in domestic first-class competitions. This rule, similar to the existing concussion substitute, allows for full-time replacements for serious injuries — though minor issues like hamstring tweaks won’t qualify.
Powerplay and White-Ball Rule Updates
In T20 Internationals, powerplay durations will now be scaled proportionally in shortened matches, calculated to the nearest legal delivery. Additionally, ODIs return to using a single ball per innings, ditching the two-ball system introduced in 2011. This move aims to restore the traditional wear and tear of the ball, rebalancing the contest between bat and ball.
Concussion Substitute Protocols Tightened
Finally, the ICC has reinforced concussion substitute rules, making them stricter and more consistent to ensure player safety is not compromised.
—
‘A Step Towards a More Modern, Fair Game’
ICC General Manager Wasim Khan described the changes as “a necessary evolution” for cricket. “We’ve listened to players, boards, and fans. These updates aim to quicken the pace, uphold fairness, and enhance player protection,” he said.
The rule updates come at a time when cricket’s governing body faces increasing pressure to modernize, especially amid growing global interest in shorter formats like T20 and The Hundred.
With the first round of these changes kicking off in July’s upcoming white-ball series, all eyes will be on how players, umpires, and fans adapt to cricket’s new era.
