ICC pondering red to pink ball switch during Tests

International cricket could witness quite a few changes in the coming days, with new rules and regulations being mulled. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering significant tweaks to the playing conditions across red-ball, white-ball and pink-ball cricket, including the possibility of using different colours of balls in the same format. The revisions in playing conditions are currently being discussed and could come into effect soon, subject to approval by the ICC Board at its meeting in Ahmedabad on May 30.

Among the recommended alterations is granting permission to the head coach to enter the field during drinks breaks. The amendment is directed primarily at ODI cricket, where currently only substitute players are authorised to enter the field of play. “Any player taking drinks onto the field shall be dressed in proper cricket attire,” states the existing clause in the playing conditions.

If the new rules come into effect, the head coach, too, will be allowed to enter the field during drinks breaks. However, there is no clarity yet on whether the coach will have to wear the team jersey in order to step onto the field. In ODI cricket, two drinks breaks per innings are permitted, each scheduled one hour and 10 minutes apart. In T20Is, the head coach is already allowed to consult with on-field players during drinks breaks for tactical reasons.

The ICC also intends to cut down the time of the innings break from 20 minutes to 15 minutes in T20Is. The existing playing condition states: “There shall be a 20-minute interval between innings, taken from the call of Time before the interval until the call of Play on resumption after the interval.” Once the new rules are implemented, teams will effectively have five minutes less to unwind, rally, and devise plans for the second innings.

Yet another proposed addition is giving on-field umpires access to HawkEye data to check bowlers for illegal actions during matches. How exactly the process will play out remains to be seen, but the ICC seems to be steadfast in clamping down on bowlers with suspect actions.

Perhaps the most significant amendment being thought about is the possibility of switching from the red ball to the pink ball during a conventional Test match. As per Cricbuzz, teams may mutually agree ahead of the series to use pink balls in a Test match if the day’s play extends into the evening due to weather-related interruptions. Further clarity on this rule is awaited.

These proposed changes were discussed during the ICC Chief Executives Committee (CEC) meeting held virtually on Thursday, May 21, with Sourav Ganguly, the head of the ICC Cricket Committee, among the participants.