ICC Mulls ODI Ball Rule Tweak: Teams May Choose Ball After 34 Overs

Sourav Ganguly-led committee proposes change to current two-ball rule; also evaluates stop clock in Tests to curb slow over rates

New Delhi, April 15: In a bid to restore balance between bat and ball in One Day Internationals (ODIs), the International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering a significant tweak to the two-ball rule, introduced in 2011. The proposed change would allow fielding teams to choose one of the two used balls after the 34th over, potentially impacting how teams strategize during the final stretch of innings.

As per a report by ESPNcricinfo, the recommendation was put forward by the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee, led by Sourav Ganguly, and has now been sent to the board of chief executives for review.

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What’s Being Proposed?

Currently, ODIs are played with two new balls, one from each end, with no change throughout the innings. The new proposal maintains the use of two new balls at the start, but after 34 overs, teams can select which ball to continue with—each ball having aged 17 overs by then. The unused ball would be kept as a spare in case of damage or replacement needs.

This change aims to address growing concerns that the current format disproportionately favors batters, especially in the death overs, with minimal reverse swing and ball wear due to the dual new-ball system.

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Other Discussions on the Table

• The ICC is also considering implementing a 60-second stop clock in Test cricket, a measure already adopted in T20Is and ODIs, to address slow over rates.
• Teams that breach time limits currently face in-game penalties, such as being forced to bring an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle.
• The committee also deliberated on a bonus-point system for the World Test Championship (WTC) but felt its implementation would be too complex at this stage.

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What’s Next?

Cricket boards have been asked to submit their feedback by the end of April. If consensus is reached, the proposed ball-change rule could be formally adopted at the ICC Annual General Meeting in July.

If approved, this would mark the most significant alteration to ODI playing conditions since the two-ball system was first introduced in October 2011, replacing the earlier rule that allowed for a ball change after 34 overs with a moderately used substitute.

The cricketing world now awaits whether the ICC will take this step toward reviving the art of reverse swing and leveling the playing field in ODIs.