The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a string of crucial changes to playing conditions in men's international cricket, with the governing body for world cricket approving the proposed change to the two-ball rule in ODIs and the concussion-substitute protocol across formats in men's international cricket.

The new playing conditions, recommended by the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee and passed by the Chief Executives Committee, will come into effect from June 17 in Tests, July 2 in ODIs, and July 10 in T20Is.

Currently, men's ODIs are played with two new balls per innings – one at either end. In the revised playing conditions, two new balls will be used from the start of an innings until the end of the 34th over. After the 34th over, the bowling team will choose one of the two balls, which they will use at both ends from overs 35 to 50. If an ODI is reduced to 25 overs or fewer before the first innings begins, only one new ball will be used.

The ICC said the amendment in the rule has been done to “readdress the balance between bat and ball” – a long-standing concern in high-scoring ODIs where bowlers have often struggled to find reverse swing or grip in the latter stages of the innings.

As for the concussion protocols, teams will have to name their substitute players to the match referee before the start of the match according to the following roles: one wicketkeeper, one batter, one seam bowler, one spin bowler, and one all-rounder.

If a concussion substitute also gets injured, the match referee may approve a replacement from outside the initial five, following existing like-for-like eligibility protocols.

In January this year, India replaced batting all-rounder Shivam Dube with a bowling all-rounder in Harshit Rana during the fourth T20I against England. Rana claimed 3 wickets for 33 in the match, and the match referee's decision to approve him as a concussion substitute had sparked a debate. The naming of players for specific roles in the concussion replacement list could prevent such situations.

The ICC, meanwhile, will adopt the MCC's disallowance of the “bunny hop” catch outside the boundary – a move designed to ensure cleaner, fairer dismissals – later this month.

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