After the recent change to the boundary catch rule, which made bunny hopping illegal, ICC has made fresh modifications to their playing conditions.
Several changes have been approved, from introducing a stop clock system in Test cricket to a new rule allowing the opposing team captain to choose "penalties" for a deliberate short run.
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The Sporting News breaks down all the newly approved ICC rules and explains the penalties teams could face if they are not followed.
Stop clock rule in Test cricket - how it works and penalties
To solve the problem of slow over-rates, ICC introduced the stop clock system for the white-ball format last year. Now, it will extend to Test cricket as well.
The rule is simple; the fielding side must be ready to start a new over within a minute or sixty seconds of the last one ending.
If the rule is not complied with, umpires have initially been asked to give the teams two warnings. After that, a five-run penalty will be imposed on the fielding side.
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However, the two warnings are limited to a block of 80 overs and will be reset to zero after that. This rule is already being implemented, starting with the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
Ball won't be replaced for deliberate use of saliva
IPL might have removed the ban on using saliva, but it is still prohibited under ICC rules.
So what is the change? Earlier, the umpires had to replace the ball if they noticed that a player had used saliva. However, with the rule change, the same ball can be used unless its condition drastically changes.
Is there a penalty? Yes, the batting team will be awarded five runs.
Third umpire to decide if a catch is fair even on a No-Ball
The rule has been updated to ensure fairness in how runs are awarded, even when a batter can't be out caught, such as on a no-ball.
If a batter is caught on a no-ball, the third umpire will still review whether a catch was taken cleanly.
- If the catch is clean, only one run will be awarded for the no-ball and the ball will be considered dead.
- But if the catch is not clean, the batting team would get the runs the batters have taken, plus the one no-ball run.
Deliberate short run - penalty and the change
If one of the batters is caught taking a short run, the batting team will continue to be punished with a five-run penalty. But in addition, the opposing captain will also have the choice to decide which batter they want to strike after a deliberate short run.
According to Rule 18.5.1: "A deliberate short run is an attempt for batters to appear to run more than one run, while at least one batter deliberately does not make good their ground at one end."
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"Batters may choose to abort a run, provided the umpire believes that there was no intention by the batter concerned to deceive the umpires or to score the run in which they didn't make their ground."
An injured player can be fully replaced in domestic cricket
The ICC will allow full-time substitute players in domestic first-class matches if a player suffers a serious injury (external). The like-for-like replacement protocol will be followed, as it is currently being done for concussion substitutions.
However, this is only a trial rule, and it is up to the individual boards on whether they want to implement it.