ICC Introduces New Cricket Rules: Stop Clock, No-Ball Catch Review, and Injury Replacements Explained

ICC Introduces New Cricket Rules: Stop Clock, No-Ball Catch Review, and Injury Replacements Explained

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled several new cricket rules in 2025 to improve the pace of play, ensure fairer outcomes, and enhance player safety in international men’s cricket. These changes, already active in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle and soon to be implemented in all ODI and T20I matches, address common concerns from players and fans.

Key New ICC Cricket Rules (2025)

1. Stop Clock Rule in Test Cricket To combat slow over-rates, the ICC introduces a stop clock in Test cricket. The fielding side must be ready to bowl the next over within 60 seconds. Teams get two warnings for delays, but on a third offense, five penalty runs are imposed. Warnings reset after every 80 overs.

2. Revised Saliva Rule Although the use of saliva on the ball remains banned, umpires are no longer required to change the ball immediately if saliva is detected. The ball will only be replaced if its condition is drastically altered, at the umpire’s discretion. If the ball remains in play but behaves unusually, the batting side gets five penalty runs, but no ball change.

3. DRS Review Tweaks

• Reviews are processed in the sequence the incidents occur in a delivery.
• If an on-field call is reviewed and a second mode of dismissal is considered (e.g., caught and then LBW), the original decision (‘out’ or ‘not out’) remains for the second review. ‘Umpire’s call’ on review means the original decision stands.

4. Catch Reviews for No-Balls Now, even if a catch is claimed off a delivery later deemed a no-ball, the third umpire must still check if the catch was clean, promoting fairness and consistent decision-making.

5. Deliberate Short Runs New rules impose a five-run penalty if a batter deliberately runs short. The fielding captain can also decide which batter remains on strike. Genuinely aborted runs are not penalized.

6. Replacement Players for Serious External Injuries (Trial) Teams can now trial full, like-for-like player replacements for visible external injuries (not for internal injuries like cramps). The trial is active in domestic first-class cricket and could be introduced to Test cricket soon, improving safety and team balance.

Why These Cricket Rules Matter

These ICC rule updates ensure faster gameplay, minimize unnecessary delays, and maintain a fair competitive environment. Emphasizing player safety through substitute allowances and clarifying key gray areas, such as no-ball catches and DRS procedures, are steps forward for modern cricket.

Stay Updated with ICC Cricket Rules

For cricket professionals, fans, and stakeholders, it’s important to stay updated with ICC’s latest rule changes to understand how the game is evolving. Bookmark this page for your go-to guide on new cricket rules and regulations in 2025!