The International Cricket Council (ICC) is all set to implement a fresh set of playing conditions across all formats of international cricket, which foresees some notable changes.

The reports state that starting July 2025, ODI will return to using a single ball by the end of each innings, a move aimed at reintroducing some reverse swing and restoring balance between bat and ball in the latter overs.

The ICC has conveyed the changes in a recent communication to its member boards, stating that the revised playing conditions will take effect immediately for Tests in June and for limited-over games from July.

Changes have also been made in concussion substitute policy, the Decision Review System (DRS), and boundary catch regulations are also part of the overhaul.

One of the most impactful changes is the ICC’s decision to move away from the two-ball rule that has been in place in ODIs for over a decade. According to the updated guidelines, teams will now start with two new balls one from each end, but only one of them will be used for the final phase of the innings.

“There will be two new balls for overs 1 to 34. After over 34 is completed and prior to the start of over 35, the fielding team will choose one of the two balls to be used for overs 35 to 50. The chosen ball will be used at both ends for the remainder of the match (unless it needs to be changed),” the ICC informed the members.

“In a match reduced to 25 overs or less per side before the first innings commences, each team shall have only one new ball for its Innings.”

The earlier rule was the use of two balls per innings in a 50-over contest. As per it, the fielding team used to get new balls from the both ends of an over for entirety of the 50 overs.

“A replacement ball at any time during the innings will be one of similar conditions to the ball that needs to be replaced. Note that the ball not used for overs 35 to 50 in the match will be added to the replacement ball supply,” it stated.

Meanwhile, the ICC has also made new changes to like-for-like player replacement in concussion substitute rules. The team will have to submit the names of five concussion replacement players to the match referee before the start of the match.

“Under an exceptional and rare circumstance whereby a replacement concussion player gets concussed and needs to be replaced, the match referee will deal with the situation and consider a replacement outside of the five nominated replacement players. The existing like-for-like protocols will apply in this situation,” the ICC added.

It was initially thought that the proposed changes will be referred to a working group but it has now emerged that the Chief Executives Committee (CEC) has approved the modifications.

The group will be determining the formats for the U19 World Cup. The working group is anticipated to be formed before the Annual Conference, scheduled for July 17-20 in Singapore.