A New Rule Proposed in One Day Cricket by ICC Committee

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly considering the implementation of a new rule in One Day Internationals (ODIs). The ICC Cricket Committee, currently chaired by Sourav Ganguly, has proposed the use of a single ball throughout an innings, replacing the current rule of using two new balls from each end.

Presently, ODI matches involve the use of two new balls—one from each end—with a total of four new balls used across both innings. The ball is also replaced after 25 overs. However, in earlier times, only one ball was used for the entire innings. This allowed the ball to age, providing bowlers with greater control, particularly aiding reverse swing and assisting spin bowlers.

After the introduction of the current rule involving two new balls, batting conditions became more favorable, diminishing bowlers' effectiveness. To address this imbalance, the ICC Cricket Committee has now proposed reverting to the earlier practice of using a single ball for each innings. The final decision on this proposal is expected to be made during ongoing ICC meetings in Zimbabwe.