Some important changes are set to take place in international cricket starting from June 1. New rules will be introduced in both white-ball (ODI) and red-ball (Test) cricket, making the game more exciting. In ODIs, the use of old balls will be allowed, the concussion substitute rule will be updated, and there will be a new system related to DRS (Decision Review System). Additionally, a slight change will be made to the rule regarding catches taken near the boundary line.
What Rule Will Change in ODI Cricket?
According to a report by Cricbuzz, two new balls will no longer be used throughout the full 50 overs in ODIs. For several years, a new ball was used from each end, meaning the balls were only 25 overs old by the end of an innings. This limited the chances of reverse swing for fast bowlers. But under the new rule, which will be implemented from July 2025, two balls will be used only up to the 34th over (17 overs each).
From the 35th over onwards, only one ball will be used for the rest of the innings, and the fielding team, along with the captain, will decide which ball to use. The ICC has informed its member boards about this upcoming change. If the match is 25 overs or less per side, only one ball will be used throughout the innings.
What’s Changing in the Concussion Substitute Rule?
The concussion substitute rule will also be modified. Teams will now be required to submit a list of five concussion replacement players to the match referee before the start of the match. These must include one wicketkeeper, one batter, one seam bowler, one spinner, and one all-rounder. If a player suffers a head injury during the match, they will be replaced by a player with a similar role. Previously, teams were misusing this rule by replacing an injured bowler with a batter. The match referee may still offer some flexibility in special situations.
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Boundary Catch and DRS Changes
Clarification is expected soon regarding the changes to catches taken near the boundary line and the DRS system. These new rules will be implemented in Test cricket after the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025, starting with the Test series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from June 17.
In ODI cricket, the new rules will be enforced starting from the ODI series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, beginning on July 2 in Colombo.
