ICC Brings Big Changes to Cricket Rules Across All Formats

ICC Brings Big Changes to Cricket Rules Across All Formats – Here’s What You Need to Know

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced a significant set of rule changes that will come into effect across all three formats of men’s international cricket—Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20 Internationals (T20Is). These new rules are designed to create a better balance between bat and ball, keeping the modern game fair, competitive, and exciting for fans and players alike.

📅 New Rules Effective From:

• Test Matches: June 17, 2025
• ODIs: July 2, 2025
• T20Is: July 10, 2025

(Note: These changes apply only to men’s cricket for now.)

🏏 Major Rule Change in ODIs – The Two-Ball Rule

🔄 What Was the Old Rule?

• Two new balls were used.
• Each ball was used from one end for 25 overs.

🆕 What’s the New Rule?

• Both balls will now be used up to the 34th over.
• From the 35th over onward, the bowling side can choose which ball to continue with.
• If a match is reduced to 25 overs or fewer, only one ball will be used.

This change will help bowlers get more reverse swing in the final overs and bring better balance to the game.

🔄 New Substitution Rule – 5 Bench Players with Specific Roles

From now on, each team must name five substitute players before every match. These players must include:

• One wicketkeeper
• One batter
• One seam bowler
• One spin bowler
• One all-rounder

This ensures teams have well-rounded backup options for strategic depth and injury replacements.

🚫 Boundary Catching Rule – No More ‘Bunny Hop’ Catches

We’ve all seen dramatic boundary catches in leagues like the BBL by players like Michael Neser and Tom Banton. But under the new ICC rule, these types of catches—called ‘bunny hops’—will now be deemed illegal.

📌 New Catching Rule Explained:

• An airborne fielder who jumps from outside the field can only touch the ball once before returning inside.
• The player must land inside the boundary before completing the catch.
• If not, the catch is invalid.

This rule starts in June 2025 and will be added to the MCC Laws of Cricket by October 2026.

🎯 Why These Changes Matter

With batters dominating the modern game, these changes are intended to bring fairness back to cricket:

• Better balance between batting and bowling.
• Clearer rules on substitute players and catching.
• More strategic and exciting match conditions.

🏁 Final Thoughts

The ICC’s latest rule updates are a step forward in evolving the game to meet modern standards. These changes promise more balanced contests and less controversy. As teams adapt to these updates, fans can expect even more exciting cricket in the months ahead.