Following a lengthy discussion, the ICC (International Cricket Council) has introduced several new rules across all formats of the game, which came into effect on 17 July 2025 for Test, ODI, and T20.
To accelerate the pace of play, provide equity, and improve player safety, these new rules will also change tactical strategies and the outfield experience. Here is an in-depth explanation of the major changes, including what they replace and how they will function in practice.
1. The Stop Clock Comes to Test Cricket
To combat slow over-rates, the longest format of the game now features a ticking clock.
The New Rule: A ‘stop clock’ will be permanently used in Test matches. The fielding side must be ready to start the next over within 60 seconds of the previous one finishing. An electronic clock will be displayed on the ground. After two warnings for failing to meet the time limit, a five-run penalty will be imposed on the fielding side for each subsequent violation.
What It Replaced: Previously, slow over-rates in Test cricket were primarily managed through financial penalties for the players and the docking of World Test Championship points. While these penalties remain, the stop clock introduces an immediate, in-game punishment. This rule was trialled successfully in white-ball cricket before being made permanent for all formats.
Example in Action: India is playing England. After the 30th over, the Indian team takes too long to get ready. The umpire gives captain Rohit Sharma a warning. This happens again after the 32nd over, resulting in a second warning. When they delay again before the 35th over, the umpire signals a five-run penalty, and England’s score immediately increases by five runs.
2. DRS Update: The ‘Out’ Decision Carries More Weight
The Decision Review System (DRS) has received a crucial tweak to handle secondary reviews more decisively.
The New Rule: If an on-field umpire gives a batter ‘out’ and the decision is reviewed, the ‘out’ decision now carries forward to any secondary mode of dismissal.
What It Replaced: Before this change, if a batter was given out caught behind and the review showed no edge, the third umpire would then check for LBW. However, if the ball-tracking for the LBW came back as ‘Umpire’s Call‘, the batter was given ‘not out’ because the original reason for the dismissal (the catch) was incorrect.
Example in Action: A bowler appeals for a catch behind against a batter, and the on-field umpire raises his finger. The batter reviews the decision. The UltraEdge replay shows the ball missed the bat but hit the pad. The third umpire then checks for LBW. The ball-tracking technology shows the ball was hitting the stumps, but it’s an ‘Umpire’s Call’. Under the new rule, because the original on-field decision was ‘out’, the batter will be given out LBW. Under the old rule, he would have been allowed to survive.
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3. Deliberate Short Run: A Harsher Penalty
The ICC is cracking down on batters attempting to steal runs through deception.
The New Rule: If umpires determine a batter has deliberately run short, a five-run penalty will be awarded to the fielding side. Crucially, the fielding captain will now also have the right to choose which of the two batters will face the next delivery.
What It Replaced: The previous rule only enforced the five-run penalty. The batters would return to their original ends, but the batting side had control over who took the strike, potentially allowing a more established batter to face the next ball.
Example in Action: With scores tight at the end of a T20 match, two batters push for a quick two runs. The non-striker deliberately turns without grounding his bat to save time. The umpire signals a dead ball, awards five penalty runs to the bowling side, and asks the fielding captain which batter he wants on strike. The captain chooses the tail-ender to face the crucial next delivery, putting his team in a commanding position.
4. Saliva Ban: Umpires’ Discretion Replaces Mandatory Ball Change
The ban on using saliva to shine the ball remains, but the consequence has been modified.
The New Rule: It is no longer mandatory for umpires to change the ball if a player applies saliva to it. The umpire now has the discretion to change the ball only if they believe its condition has been significantly altered. The five-run penalty for the batting side still applies if the act is deemed deliberate.
What It Replaced: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, any use of saliva on the ball automatically resulted in the umpires changing the ball after issuing a warning. This sometimes led to suspicions that teams were deliberately breaking the rule to get a more favourable replacement ball.
Example in Action: A fast bowler, out of habit, applies saliva to the ball. The umpire sees it and issues a warning to the fielding team. However, since it was a minor application and the condition of the ball had not changed, the umpire allowed play to continue with the same ball.
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5. ODI Two-Ball Rule Modified for Reverse Swing
One-Day International cricket sees a significant change aimed at bringing bowlers back into the game in the later stages.
The New Rule: In ODIs, two new balls will be used from either end for the first 34 overs. After the 34th over, the fielding team must choose one of those two balls to use for the remaining 16 overs of the innings.
What It Replaced: Previously, two new balls were used for the entire 50 overs of an ODI innings, one from each end. This meant that at the end of the innings, each ball was only 25 overs old, making it difficult for bowlers to generate reverse swing, which typically requires a ball that is older and more scuffed.
Example in Action: In an ODI match, Australia is bowling to South Africa. At the end of the 34th over, the Australian captain, Pat Cummins, inspects both balls. One has been hit around more and is slightly more worn. He chooses that ball to continue with for the rest of the innings, hoping his fast bowlers can get it to reverse swing and trouble the batters in the death overs.
Some Other Rules that have changed or been introduced are:
Boundary Catches: To complete a catch, a fielder who jumps from near the boundary must have last touched the ground inside the ropes. If their last point of contact was outside the boundary before they jumped, it will be ruled a six. This stops the “bunny hop” catch from outside the field of play.
Concussion Substitutes: Teams must now notify the match referee of their potential concussion substitutes before the match begins. This prevents teams from having an unfair advantage by choosing from a wider pool of players. There is also now a mandatory 7-day rest period for any player diagnosed with a concussion.
Chronological DRS Reviews: If two incidents happen in one delivery (like an LBW appeal followed by a run-out attempt) and both are reviewed, the third umpire must now check them in the order they happened.
Clean Catch on a No-Ball: Even if a delivery is a no-ball, the third umpire must still review if a resulting catch was taken cleanly. This is important because if the catch was clean, only one run for the no-ball is awarded. If it wasn’t, the batters get any runs they completed.
Trial for Injury Replacements: The ICC has approved a trial in domestic first-class cricket for like-for-like player replacements for serious external injuries (not just concussions). This is not an international rule yet, but it is a significant step towards it.
