The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved the use of pink balls in daytime Test matches on a trial basis. The move has been introduced to reduce the number of overs lost because of fading light, particularly during the final session of a day’s play.

The new playing conditions will come into effect for all international series starting on or after October 1.

The change could have an impact on the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the Test in Guwahati potentially being played with a pink ball because the city experiences an early sunset.

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Teams Must Agree Before The Test

The decision to use a pink ball will have to be made by both teams before the start of the Test. Once the decision has been taken, it will remain in place for the entire match.

Teams will not be allowed to change their decision once the game has started.

The ICC said that switching from a red ball to a pink ball during a Test will also not be permitted.

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Sourav Ganguly Explains The Changes

Former India captain and current ICC Men’s Cricket Committee Chair Sourav Ganguly said the changes are part of efforts to keep the game’s playing conditions in line with the modern era.

“There are some important changes to the Playing Conditions, including provisions relating to cricket balls, greater clarity around certain aspects of fielding and measures aimed at improving the pace of the game,” Ganguly said.

He added that the changes had been carefully considered while keeping the “integrity and consistency” of the sport in mind.

Day Will Not Automatically End After A Wicket

Another major change relates to the end of the day’s play.

Under the new rule, play will not automatically stop if a wicket falls during the final over of the day, provided the weather and playing conditions allow the match to continue.

The ICC has made the change because stopping play at that point does not actually save time. The remaining deliveries from the over still have to be completed when play resumes the following day.

Separate Balls For Men’s, Women’s And Junior Cricket

The ICC has also introduced separate size and weight specifications for men’s, women’s and junior cricket.

Until now, women’s cricket has often used balls designed for junior cricket. The new regulations will introduce distinct standards for each category.

For men’s cricket, a new ball must weigh between 5 and 5.25 ounces (142-149 grams) and have a circumference between 8.46 and 8.66 inches (21.5-22 centimetres).

New Rule For Batters Wasting Time

The ICC has also introduced stricter consequences for batters who deliberately waste time.

A batter will receive a warning for the first offence and another warning if it happens again. If the batter repeats the offence for a third time, the fielding team will be awarded five penalty runs.

The change is aimed at keeping the game moving and reducing unnecessary delays.

ICC Clarifies The Overthrow Rule

The playing conditions have also been updated to provide greater clarity on what qualifies as an overthrow.

Under the new definition, an overthrow will involve an attempt to direct the ball towards the stumps with the intention of preventing runs or completing a run-out.

However, a normal misfield will not be treated as an overthrow. This includes situations where a fielder is simply trying to stop the ball or pass it to another fielder.

The ICC said the clarification is intended to remove confusion around the application of the overthrow rule.