ODIs to See Major Shift as ICC Rolls Out New Playing Conditions

In a significant overhaul of match regulations, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is introducing new playing conditions across all international formats, starting June for Tests and July for limited-overs matches. The most striking change will be in One Day Internationals (ODIs), where the use of two new balls per innings will soon be history — a move set to influence how games unfold, especially in the crucial death overs.

The ICC’s new guidelines, approved by the Chief Executives Committee, aim to enhance gameplay balance and address long-standing debates around the white-ball format. These new playing conditions are part of the global governing body’s effort to ensure fairness, adaptability, and safety across formats.

One Ball to Rule the Final Overs

Until now, ODIs featured two new balls, one from each end, making conditions easier for batters by reducing reverse swing and ball wear. Under the revised rules, both balls will still be used from overs 1 to 34. However, from the 35th over onward, the fielding side must pick one of the two balls to complete the innings — ensuring only one ball finishes the game.

This strategic change is expected to benefit bowlers in the final overs by allowing more wear and tear on the ball, thus bringing swing and spin back into play. For shortened games (25 overs or fewer), only one new ball will be used per side from the start.

In addition, the ICC has emphasized that unused balls from overs 35 to 50 will be added to the replacement supply pool. This means the game won’t lose uniformity in case of ball replacements — a nod to maintaining the integrity of the contest.

Other New Playing Conditions: Concussion Rules & DRS Updates

Alongside the ODI revamp, new playing conditions will also affect concussion substitutions. Teams must now pre-select five replacement players — including a batter, a wicketkeeper, a spinner, a pacer, and an all-rounder. Should a rare scenario arise where a concussion replacement also suffers a head injury, match referees may approve an external substitute, with like-for-like protocols remaining intact.

The World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa on June 11 will stick to existing rules, but the new policies will roll out from Sri Lanka’s Test and white-ball series against Bangladesh starting June 17.

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