ICC to trial pink-ball daytime Tests and tighten time-wasting sanctions from October 1
The International Cricket Council announced on October 1 that it has amended international cricket’s Playing Conditions to trial the use of pink balls in daytime Test matches and to introduce stricter penalties for batters who waste time.
The pink-ball trial is intended to reduce playing time lost to bad light; teams may use a pink ball only if both sides agree before the start of the Test and the decision cannot be altered once the match has begun. A switch from a red ball to a pink ball during a Test will not be permitted.
In men’s cricket the ICC has tightened the procedure for batters not ready to face the next delivery within the prescribed time: the first offence will attract a warning, the second a final warning, and the third and every subsequent offence will result in five penalty runs being awarded to the fielding side. Repeated breaches may also be dealt with under the Code of Conduct.
Time-wasting drew attention during the Lord’s Test between India and England in 2025, when India captain Shubman Gill alleged that his confrontation with Zak Crawley was linked to Crawley and Ben Duckett arriving at the crease late while trying to see out the final over of Day 3.
The ICC has introduced separate size and weight specifications for the balls used in men’s, women’s and junior international cricket after manufacturers had often produced a single ball for women’s and junior matches. The rules impose tighter limits on the size and weight of balls used in women’s international cricket.
Clarifications have been made on what constitutes an overthrow: an overthrow will be an attempt to direct the ball towards the stumps to prevent runs or complete a run-out, while a misfield — whether a fielder is attempting to stop the ball or to pass it to another fielder — will not be treated as an overthrow. The criteria for when the ball is "finally settled" have also been revised: the ball does not have to be in the bowler’s or wicketkeeper’s hands, but for a run-out or stumping a fielder must have complete control of the ball; merely touching the ball as it breaks the stumps will not suffice.
A wicket falling in the final over of the day will no longer automatically end play if the over has not been completed; remaining deliveries can be bowled on the same day if weather and playing conditions permit. Other changes include a fixed 15-minute interval for T20Is (reducible to a minimum of 10 minutes if playing time has been lost), alignment of ODI and T20I playing conditions to permit the head coach or their designate to enter the field during drinks intervals, and the making permanent of the leg-side wide trial in ODI and T20I conditions.
The new Playing Conditions apply to international series beginning on October 1 or later; series already underway will continue under the previous playing conditions.
