ICC confirms pink-ball trial for daytime Tests and five-run penalty for time-wasting batters
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday announced a wide-ranging overhaul of its playing conditions across men's and women's international cricket, headlined by a trial of pink balls in daytime Test matches and a new five-run penalty for batters who waste time. The updated regulations apply to all international series beginning on October 1 or later, with series already underway continuing under the existing rules.
The revisions incorporate changes to the MCC Laws of Cricket that come into effect on the same day and are designed, according to the ICC, to "address time-wasting, standardise ball specifications and clarify certain aspects of fielding."
Batters to be penalised for running down the clock
The most eye-catching of the new measures targets slow batters in men's cricket. A batter who is not ready to face the next delivery within the prescribed time will now receive a warning for a first offence and a final warning for a second. A third offence — and every subsequent one — will see five penalty runs awarded to the fielding side, while Code of Conduct provisions may also be invoked for repeated violations.
The crackdown had been flagged by Cricbuzz ahead of Thursday's formal announcement, and follows mounting scrutiny of delaying tactics at the highest level. Time-wasting came into sharp focus during the Lord's Test in 2025, when India captain Shubman Gill alleged that his confrontation with England opener Zak Crawley stemmed from Crawley and batting partner Ben Duckett appearing to arrive at the crease 90 seconds late as England sought to see out the final over before close of play on day three.
Pink balls cleared for daytime Tests on trial basis
In a bid to reduce the loss of playing time to bad light, the ICC has approved the use of pink balls in daytime Test matches on a trial basis — provided both teams agree before the match. Once a Test begins with a pink ball, the decision is locked in: a switch from red to pink after the start will not be allowed, and the pink ball must be used for the remainder of the match.
No early finish after a wicket in the final over
Another Test-specific change means the fall of a wicket in the final over of the day's play will no longer automatically bring the day to an end, provided the over has not been completed and weather and conditions allow play to continue. The ICC argued that stopping at the fall of a wicket saves no time, since the remaining deliveries must still be bowled the following day, and said the tweak will also reward the fielding team and keep the game going in such situations.
Separate ball specifications for women's cricket
Women's international cricket will see tighter limits on ball size and weight. While men's cricket already has restricted tolerances, manufacturers have often produced a single ball for both women's and junior cricket. The new rules introduce three separate size and weight specifications for men's, women's and junior cricket: a new men's ball must weigh between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (156–163 grams) and measure 22.4–22.9 centimetres in circumference, while a women's ball must weigh 5–5.25 ounces (142–149 grams) and measure 21.5–22 centimetres around.
Fielding laws clarified: overthrows, 'finally settled' and control of the ball
Several clarifications follow MCC recommendations. An overthrow is now defined as an attempt to direct the ball towards the stumps to prevent runs or complete a run-out — a misfield, whether the fielder is trying to stop the ball or pass it to another fielder, will not be considered an overthrow.
Umpires will also have greater discretion in deciding when a ball is "finally settled", a matter that can prove decisive on the final delivery of a close match. The ball will no longer have to be in the bowler's or wicketkeeper's hands for it to be considered finally settled.
The requirements around control of the ball in run-out and stumping decisions have likewise been tightened, an area that has frequently come under scrutiny. For a dismissal to stand, the fielder must have complete control of the ball at the moment the stumps are broken; simply touching the ball with a hand or glove while dislodging the bails will no longer be enough to establish that the ball was held.
White-ball tweaks: fixed intervals, coaches at drinks and a permanent wide rule
In ODIs and T20Is, the interval in T20Is is now fixed at 15 minutes, though it can be reduced to a minimum of 10 minutes where playing time has been lost. Playing conditions in both white-ball formats have also been aligned to allow the head coach or their designate to enter the field of play during drinks intervals.
The leg-side wide rule initially trialled in ODIs and T20Is has been made permanent. The provision offers leniency to bowlers when a batter moves before or during a delivery, with the batter's leg position at the point of delivery serving as the reference point for judging a wide — even if the batter subsequently moves across to the off side.
"It was a genuinely collaborative process, with a strong focus on finding the right solutions and ensuring the Playing Conditions continue to evolve in step with the modern game, while preserving the clarity and integrity of the laws," said Gaurav Saxena, the ICC's General Manager – Events and Operations.