Bracewell says one-ball late-overs rule helps spinners and expects close ODI contests

New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell told The Hindu (Published - November 04, 2026 03:31 am IST) that last year’s rule allowing teams to choose a single ball for the final 16 overs has benefited spinners and that he expects the forthcoming ODI series to be closely contested.

The rule change replaces the use of two new balls from each end through the 34th over with a single ball for the remainder of the match; the modification was implemented primarily to give bowlers a chance to obtain reverse swing with a slightly older ball. Bracewell, 35, suggested that this alteration has altered late-innings bowling patterns in One-Day internationals.

“I think the ball gets a little bit softer. So perhaps spinners are bowling more in the last 10 overs. And I guess when that ball does get soft, it becomes a little bit harder to hit out to the boundary. So it can be a positive for a spin bowler to be bowling at the back end,” said Bracewell.

On how spin bowlers must adapt within a format where conditions often favour batters, Bracewell emphasised variation rather than wholesale changes to line and length. “There’s not much that you can change in terms of your line and length. So you’ve got to try and get the ball to behave slightly differently off the surface through variation in pace or the way that you hold the ball to get it to just react slightly differently off the surface,” he added.

Addressing the competitiveness of the upcoming series, Bracewell described the teams as evenly matched and referenced New Zealand’s earlier success in India this year. “It’s two evenly matched teams. We had a great series in India at the start of the year, winning it 2-1, and I think India will will want to right some wrongs”, he said.

The first match of the series is available to viewers via official broadcast: Watch New Zealand vs. India 1st ODI live and exclusive on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV on Wednesday from 7 a.m. IST.

The comments set the stage for the opening fixture and frame late-overs tactics as a point of focus for both sides when the series begins on Wednesday.