Dubai, June 14, 2025: In a significant development set to reshape the dynamics of international cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved key changes to the playing conditions, including a revision of the two-ball rule in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and the adoption of a standardized concussion substitute protocol across all formats of men’s cricket.
The decisions, confirmed by ESPNcricinfo, follow recommendations made by the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee and were subsequently ratified by the Chief Executives Committee. These changes will come into effect on different dates for each format — June 17 for Tests, July 2 for ODIs, and July 10 for T20 Internationals.
Under the current ODI format, two new balls are used in an innings, one from each end. However, starting July 2, the revised rule stipulates that the two-ball system will apply only up to the 34th over. From the 35th over onwards, the bowling side will be required to select one of the two used balls, which will then be used from both ends for the final 16 overs of the innings.
This change aims to bring more balance between bat and ball, especially during the death overs, which have increasingly tilted in favour of batters under the existing two-ball format.
In addition, if an ODI is shortened to 25 overs per side or fewer before the first innings begins, the bowling team will be permitted to use only one new ball throughout their bowling innings.
In another landmark move, the ICC has implemented a uniform concussion substitute protocol across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Under the new system, each team must pre-submit a list of five substitute players — including one wicketkeeper, one batter, one fast bowler, one spinner, and one all-rounder — along with their roles, to the match referee before the start of the match.
This move is aimed at ensuring transparency and preventing controversies, such as the one that arose during the India vs England T20I earlier this year. In that match, India replaced batting all-rounder Shivam Dube with bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute. Rana’s impactful performance — 3 wickets for 33 runs — raised eyebrows, prompting a review of substitution practices.
The new guidelines are designed to eliminate such ambiguity by enforcing role-specific replacements. Additionally, if a concussion substitute sustains an injury (including another concussion), the match referee will be allowed to approve a replacement from outside the pre-nominated five, adhering to the ‘like-for-like’ principle.
The ICC also approved an adjustment to the laws concerning boundary catches, aligning with a recent change from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Fielders will no longer be allowed to jump from outside the boundary line to complete a catch — a practice sometimes referred to as the ‘bunny hop’ rule. A fielder must now be grounded within the field of play before initiating a legal catch.
These changes are expected to modernize the game, address long-standing competitive imbalances, and enhance the clarity of in-game protocols, especially in high-stakes scenarios.
