The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a stop clock in Test matches, with the rule coming into effect with the beginning of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
According to the rule, the fielding team has to start the next over within a minute of the previous one ending. If the rule is flouted, the fielding team will be given two warnings. Starting with the third offence, the batting side will be awarded five runs every time the rule is violated. The warning count will be reset after every 80 overs.
The stop clock rule has already been in effect in One-Day Internationals and T20Is involving Full Members since June 1, 2024.
Here are some other updated playing conditions across the three international formats:
Saliva and changing the ball
In other updates to the playing conditions, it is no longer necessary for the umpires to change the ball once saliva is found on it even though the ban on the use of saliva is still in force. The rule has been tweaked to counter a scenario where the bowling team—trying to get the ball changed—deliberately applies saliva on the ball. The changing of the ball—though largely left to the discretion of the umpires—can only happen if its condition has been changed drastically.
Default decision ‘out’ for secondary review
In the case of a secondary review after an ‘out’ decision by the on-field umpire, the default decision for the subsequent mode of dismissal will be ‘out’.
Scenario: A batter reviews after he/she has been adjudged caught behind by the on-field umpire. UltraEdge shows that there was no bat involved but the ball was in contact with the batter’s pads. Subsequently, when the TV umpire turns to ball-tracking to determine whether the batter was out ‘lbw’, the default decision for this mode of dismissal will be ‘out’. Thus, if ball-tracking shows it is ‘umpire’s call’, the batter will be adjudged out.
Chronology in combined review
In another change relating to DRS, the TV umpire will now check a combined review (invoked by both umpire and player) in chronological order. If there is a run out attempt after an appeal for lbw, the leg-before decision (sent upstairs by the fielding team) will be checked before reviewing the attempted run out (invoked by the umpire).
Catch off a no-ball
In the event of the on-field umpires discussing whether a catch has been taken cleanly, and the TV umpire subsequently informing them of a no-ball, the fairness of the catch will still be checked. Until now, a no-ball would rule out the need to check the fairness of the catch. However, in the updated playing conditions, if the catch is deemed fair, the batting team will only be awarded one run for the no-ball. In case the catch is not clean, the batting team will be given how many ever runs the batters have taken off that delivery.
Deliberate short run
While the five-run penalty for deliberately stealing an extra run (short run) remains in place, the updated rules mandate that the fielding team can decide which batter it wants on strike in such an event.
Trial for new player replacement rule
The ICC has also suggested member Boards to trial a rule pertaining to replacement players in their domestic First-Class tournaments. The rule involves allowing a team to field a like-for-like replacement for a player who has suffered ‘serious external injury’.
(Based on ICC Playing Conditions accessed by ESPNcricinfo)
