The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced new rules to make cricket faster and fairer. The biggest change is the stop clock in Test matches. Now, the fielding team must start the next over within one minute after the previous over ends. If they delay, the umpire will warn them twice. After the third delay, the team will lose five runs as a penalty. This rule aims to reduce slow over rates, a long-standing problem in Test cricket.
Another important change is about using saliva on the ball. Players can still spit on the ball, but the ball will not be changed unless its condition is clearly damaged. If the ball’s structure changes after spitting, the umpire can give five penalty runs to the batting side. This change helps keep the game fair and stops players from using tricks to damage the ball.
The ICC also introduced a strict rule for short runs. If a batter purposely takes a short run, the batting team will lose five penalty runs. Moreover, the bowling side will choose which batter faces the next ball. The umpire will consult with the bowling team before making this decision. This rule stops batters from gaining unfair advantages.
Additionally, ICC updated the rules for reviewing catches. Now, if the umpire doubts a catch, the third umpire will check even if there is a no ball. Earlier, the third umpire only checked the no ball but ignored the catch review. If the catch is fair, the batting side will get one run for the no ball. If the catch is not fair, the batting team will keep all runs taken.
Overall, these new ICC rules aim to make cricket more exciting and honest. By speeding up the game and tightening fairness, cricket fans will enjoy a better experience. These changes show ICC’s commitment to improving cricket at all levels.