The ICC is exploring a possible change to the current two-ball rule in One Day Internationals (ODIs), aiming to better balance the contest between bat and ball. A proposal, discussed during the recent ICC meetings in Harare, suggests that ODIs should revert to using a single ball from the 35th over of each innings.

As things stand, ODIs are played with two new balls—one from each end—throughout the innings. The new recommendation, put forward by the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee chaired by Sourav Ganguly, would see teams continue using two balls for the first 34 overs. After that point, the fielding side would select one of the two balls—each 17 overs old—to use for the remainder of the innings. The unused ball would be retained as a spare.

An earlier change—shifting to a single ball after 25 overs—was also discussed but did not gain enough traction. The committee felt that the 17-over mark provided a more balanced wear-and-tear stage for deciding which ball to continue with. Member boards are expected to provide feedback on the recommendation by the end of this month, and if a consensus is reached, the revised rule could be adopted at the ICC Annual General Meeting in July. As a change to playing conditions, it would not require full board approval.

The current two-ball rule was introduced in October 2011, though similar variations had been used previously, most notably during the 1992 World Cup. Prior to that, ODIs featured a mandatory change of ball after 34 overs, when a cleaner used ball was introduced to improve visibility for batters.

Other Proposed Changes Under Review

• Test Cricket Stop Clock: Boards have also been asked to consider introducing a 60-second stop clock in Test matches to tackle slow over rates. This clock, already in use in T20Is and ODIs, penalizes teams behind time by requiring an additional fielder to be brought inside the 30-yard circle.
• Under-19 Men’s World Cup Format: A potential switch of the U-19 Men’s World Cup from the 50-over format to T20 was discussed. However, there was no strong support for the change, and such a shift would require formal board approval.
• Bonus Points in WTC: There was brief conversation around the possibility of adding bonus points to the World Test Championship. However, most felt the system would become too complex to implement effectively.

The ICC is now awaiting feedback on these proposals, particularly the ODI ball rule tweak and the Test cricket stop clock, which could shape the future of how the formats are played.