Batting sides can now concede five penalty runs when a batter wastes time, and a wicket in the last over of a Test day no longer ends play. Both rules are part of the new ICC Playing Conditions, which apply to every international series starting on or after 1 October 2026.
Series under way stay on the old rules. Pace of play is one clear target, the same pressure behind the BBL slow over-rate powerplay penalty.
The rulebook lists what changed. It does not show how these rules will test a nightwatchman, a batter buying time and a captain choosing his ball.
“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.”
Sourav Ganguly, ICC Men’s Cricket Committee Chair, ICC media release, 1 October 2026
| Change | What it means | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Batters wasting time | Warning, then final warning, then 5 penalty runs to the fielding side for each later offence | All (men’s) |
| Last-over wicket | Play continues to finish the over if conditions allow | Tests |
| Pink ball in day Tests | Trial by mutual agreement before the match. No switch from red to pink once it starts | Tests |
| Leg-side wide | Trial made permanent. The batter’s leg position at delivery decides the call | ODI, T20I |
| Overthrows | Only a throw aimed at the stumps counts. A misfield does not | All |
| Ball finally settled | Umpire decides. Ball need not be in the bowler’s or keeper’s hands | All |
| Run-outs and stumpings | Fielder must have complete control of the ball | All |
| Ball specifications | Separate size and weight tolerances for men’s, women’s and junior balls | Women’s, junior |
| T20I innings break | Fixed at 15 minutes, can drop to 10 if time is lost | T20I |
| Coaches at drinks | Head coach or a nominee can enter the field | ODI, T20I |
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A wicket in the last over used to be a gift to the batting side: the nightwatchman walked off without facing a ball. Now he must face the rest of the over in fading light, with men around the bat and a bowler who has just struck. Two warnings for time-wasting still mean two free delays, and smart batters will save them for the spell that matters most.
The pink ball moves the battle to before the toss, because the choice cannot change once play starts. Reading the pitch and the forecast becomes part of the contest, like picking your bowlers, and a seam attack will want pink under cloud while a spin-heavy side resists. Teams must now think harder and read conditions better, which makes these the best changes the game has had in years.
Wides, Overthrows and Run-Outs: What Else Changes
The leg-side wide was trialled in white-ball internationals in the second half of 2025 and is now permanent. Where the batter’s legs are at the moment of delivery decides the call, even if he then moves to the off side. Wide calls have caused rows before, as the India-Japan wide controversy showed.
The fielding changes close grey areas. A misfield is no longer an overthrow, and umpires can call a ball finally settled without it reaching the bowler or keeper. For a run-out or stumping, touching the ball while breaking the stumps is not enough.
The batting penalty mirrors one that already hits fielding sides. Under the white-ball stop clock, fielding sides that keep breaching the time limit between overs concede five runs. USA were the first team hit by it at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The pink-ball trial and permanent wide rule were approved at the ICC Board meeting in Ahmedabad on 31 May and 1 June 2026. Early reports suggested teams could switch to pink mid-match when light faded. The final wording does not allow it.
“These changes have been carefully considered to ensure the Playing Conditions continue to reflect the needs of the modern game while maintaining its integrity and consistency.”
Sourav Ganguly, ICC media release, 1 October 2026
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