Stop clock for Tests, new DRS protocols amongst notable rule changes by ICC

Men’s international cricket will witness notable rule changes from the International Cricket Council (ICC), including a stop clock for Tests and new Decision Review System (DRS) protocols. Although the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle has kicked off with new rules, white-ball rule changes are effective from July 2. 

According to ESPNcricinfo, the ICC will extend the stop clock provision to Test cricket, due to the slow over rates issue, a year after its introduction in men’s white-ball cricket. According to the rules, the fielding team must begin the next over within one minute of the previous one’s conclusion.

Two warnings will be given for non-compliance, following which a five-run penalty will be imposed on the fielding team. Warnings are reset after every 80 overs, with the timer to run from 0 to 60, and have been implemented from the start of the 2025-27 WTC cycle.

Meanwhile, the ICC has updated the DRS protocol, specifying how secondary dismissals will be managed. For example, if a batter is caught behind but replays show no bat contact, the TV umpire might review a potential lbw if the ball hits the pad.

Previously, a second decision would overturn an “out” call; however, now the umpire’s original decision will stand during an LBW review. If ball-tracking returns an umpire’s call, the batter will remain out. This alteration aligns the review process more closely with the on-field umpire’s initial decision.

Other notable changes include - the ICC making it optional, not mandatory, for umpires to change the ball if saliva is used, fairness of catch to be checked even on no-balls, and deliberate short runs by batters will now be penalised strategically.

The report said that if the batter makes a deliberate short run, then the umpires will ask the fielding team to decide which batter they want on strike, with the five-run penalty continuing.

Another notable rule brought in by the ICC is the trialling of full-time injury substitutes in domestic first-class cricket games. In case of serious injuries, which is not applicable to muscular or hamstring injuries, the substitute should be a like-for-like replacement, which is in line with the current concussion substitute protocol and is totally up to the nations to do their trial.

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