ICC Considers Scrapping Two-Ball Rule in ODIs to Revive Reverse Swing

As per the new reports from Cricbuzz, the ICC-International Cricket Council is considering changes in the rules of the ODI games. And will likely scrap the use of two new balls in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). The move is aimed at providing impetus to bowlers by facilitating reverse swing. The world body is also considering introducing in-game clocks in Test matches to manage over rates and is exploring the idea of having the Under-19 World Cup for men in the T20 format.

Over the years, many cricketers have complained about the dying aspect of the game and now considering all the recommendations, ICC is looking to get away with the two ball rule in ODI cricket.

ICC to change the Two-Ball Rule in ODIs

The International Cricket Council isn’t looking to completely abolish the two-ball rule but is definitely looking to change the rule a bit. The new rule change is to be suggested by the ICC’s Cricket Committee. 

As per new recommendations, the bowling sides can start with two new balls but can use only one ball from the 25-over mark. The bowling side would have the option to choose which of the two balls to continue with. In effect, the ICC is not entirely reversing the two-ball rule in the PCs, but is aiming to reintroduce the prospect of reverse swing that is not possible when the ball retains the shine.

Besides the two-ball rule, the ICC is also seeking a change in the clock time rules. Cricket Administrators are now considering introducing a 60-second timer between overs in Test matches to help complete 90 overs in a day. Additionally, there’s a debate about shifting the Under-19 World Cup to a T20 format, aligning it with the women’s U-19 tournaments. Any changes would take effect from the 2028 broadcast cycle. All these recommendations will be discussed during the ongoing ICC meetings in Zimbabwe.

Two-ball rule criticism

Many experts have been criticising the two-ball rule, with Sachin Tendulkar calling it a recipe for disaster. “Having two new balls in one day of cricket is a perfect recipe for disaster as each ball is not given the time to get old enough to reverse. We haven’t seen reverse swing, an integral part of the death overs, for a long time,” Tendulkar had famously said in a social media comment some years ago. He has since been advocating for bat-ball balance in ODIs, which he thinks is heavily skewed in favour of the batters. Even Brett Lee had gone on record endorsing Tendulkar’s contention.