JOIN USICC grants approval to hold day/night Test matches
The ICC on Monday gave its seal of approval to the day/night Test matches while leaving the member Boards to decide on the type and colour of the ball to be used, as it announced new playing conditions for Tests, ODIs and T20 Internationals on the eve of the Sri Lanka-New Zealand series.
Some countries, including Australia and England, have been contemplating day/night Test matches for some time and with the ICC’s decision, the longest format of the game may be held under lights very soon.
“Participating countries may agree to play day/night Test matches. The home and visiting boards will decide on the hours of play which will be six hours of scheduled play per day while the two boards will also decide on the precise brand, type and colour of ball to be used for the match,” the ICC said in a statement.
The world body announced a slew of changes in the playing conditions, including powerplays, fielding restrictions and short-pitched deliveries in the ODIs, Decision Review System (in Tests and ODIs), no-ball, dead ball, over-rates, applicable in all the formats and changes in One Over Per Side Eliminator (OOPSE) in T20Is.
“The new playing conditions for Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals will come into effect with the series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, which starts in Pallekele on Tuesday. The amendments have been approved by the ICC Board following proposals made by the ICC Cricket Committee at its meeting in London in May,” it said.
Under the new playing conditions, there would be two blocks of Powerplays in an ODI, instead of existing three.
“In an uninterrupted innings, the first Powerplay will be restricted to the first 10 overs with only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. The second five-over Batting Powerplay (in an uninterrupted innings) will have to be completed by the 40th over and only three fielders will be allowed outside the fielding restriction area at the time of delivery,” the ICC statement said.
“In the non-Powerplay overs, no more than four fielders will be permitted outside the 30-yard circle.”
On the DRS, applicable to both Tests and ODIs, the ICC said, “Margin of uncertainty applicable to the point of impact with the pad has been increased so that it is the same as provided for determining the projected point of impact with the stumps i.e. if the centre of the ball is shown to be impacting in line within an area demarcated by a line drawn down the middle of the outer stumps (and the bottom of the bails), then the decision will always be out.
All the changes...
Day/night Tests:
* Participating countries may agree to play day/night Test matches. The home and visiting boards will decide on the hours of play which will be six hours of scheduled play per day while the two boards will also decide on the precise brand, type and colour of ball to be used for the match.
Decision Review System:
* If the centre of the ball is shown to be impacting in line within an area demarcated by a line drawn down the middle of the outer stumps (and the bottom of the bails), then the decision will always be out.
* If the whole of the ball is shown to be impacting outside the line of the stumps, then the decision will always be not out. If there is anything in between, the original on-field decision will stand.
No-ball rule (dealing with No-balls in the Third Umpire TV Replay System):
* Following any mode of dismissal that is not permitted off a no-ball and which is not the subject of an Umpire or Player Review, the third umpire shall, subject to the availability of suitable technology, immediately check the fairness of the delivery (foot-fault only).
* If suitable technology is not available to the third umpire, then if the on-field umpire is uncertain as the fairness of the delivery (foot-fault only), he shall be entitled to request the batsman to delay leaving the field and to check the fairness of the delivery (foot-fault only) with the third umpire.
Powerplays and fielding restrictions:
* Instead of three, there will be two blocks of Powerplays. In an uninterrupted innings, the first Powerplay will be restricted to the first 10 overs with only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle.
* The second five-over batting Powerplay (in an uninterrupted innings) will have to be completed by the 40th over and only three fielders will be allowed outside the fielding restriction area at the time of delivery.
* In the non-Powerplay overs, no more than four fielders will be permitted outside the 30-yard circle.
Short-pitched deliveries:
* A bowler shall be limited to two short-pitched deliveries per over.
One Over Per Side Eliminator (OOPSE) for T20s:
* In both innings of the one over per side eliminator, the fielding side shall choose from which end to bowl.
* Only nominated players in the main match may participate in the OOPSE.
* The fielding captain or his nominee shall select the ball with which he wishes to bowl his over from the box of spare balls provided by the umpires. Such box to include the balls used in the main match, but no new balls.