DUBAI: The ICC is considering a change to the existing two-ball playing conditions in ODIs in a bid to restore some balance between bat and ball in the format. A recommendation was made at the ICC meetings in Harare this week to use only one ball from the 35th over of an innings.
The recommendation was made by the ICC men’s cricket committee, headed by Sourav Ganguly, to board chief executives. Each innings will start with two new balls, as is the case now. But in the recommendation, the fielding side will be allowed to select which ball they wish to carry on with after the 34th over, by when both balls will be 17 overs old. The ball that is not chosen will then be kept as the spare ball in case it is needed.
The cricket committee considered making the ball change earlier, after 25 overs. But ESPNcricinfo understands that did not find much favour within the committee, which felt using a ball for 17 overs before deciding which to use was more appropriate. Boards are expected to give their feedback on the tweak by the end of this month. If there is consensus, it will be formalised in the playing conditions most likely at the ICC’s annual general meeting in July. Because it is a playing-condition change, it will not need approval by the ICC’s board.
