Batters face five-run penalty for time wasting in new ICC playing conditions

Cricknation Update: Batters face five-run penalty for time wasting in new ICC playing conditions Women’s cricket now has a distinctly-specified cricket ball size different from the men’s game The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The smile of a champion – Mohammed Siraj picked up five wickets in a ten-ball period, India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Colombo, September 17, 2023 Alyssa Healy poses with the trophy after Australia retained the Ashes, England vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Women’s Ashes, Taunton, July 18, 2023 Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Chandigarh, Chandigarh hpens to be India’s first planned city and it does show, Uploaded on 27 November 2001.

Newlands in Ce Town will host the opening game of the main round on October 7 with the tournament running through to November 21 A jubilant Australian side with their prize, India vs Australia, Men’s ODI World Cup final, Ahmedabad, November 19, 2023 The target of 406 India were faced with didn’t seem to perturb the fans, who knew they would still win, and then it was just a matter of waiting for and celebrating the milestones Washington Sundar has meanwhile been withdrawn from the T20I series against WI, with Naman Dhir named his replacement Prasidh Krishna has a chat with Shubman Gill, India vs West Indies, 1st ODI, Thiruvananthuram, September 27, 2026 India coach also felt that wickets offering so little for bowlers were “not fair”, making it difficult for them to have a meaningful impact on the game Ravindra Jadeja has a chat with Kuldeep Yadav and Shubman Gill, India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI, Guwahati, September 30, 2026 Stats highlights from Guwahati, where Shubman Gill scored the fastest ever ODI double-hundred and Rohit Sharma blazed past 12000 runs Shubman Gill brought up a 62-ball ton in the chase, India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI, Guwahati, September 30, 2026 The West Indies opener has returned to ODI cricket at a stage of his career when opportunities cannot be assumed to stretch indefinitely ahead John Campbell’s century was the fifth-fastest for West Indies, India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI, Guwahati, September 30, 2026 Two overlooked J&K seamers seized an unexpected opportunity to fill Auqib Nabi’s void and delivered crucial spells in the Irani Cup Sunil Kumar peals for a wicket, Jammu & Kashmir vs Rest of India, Irani Trophy, Srinagar, September 30, 2026 Umar Nazir Mir peals for Shivam Dube’s wicket, Mumbai vs Jammu and Kashmir, Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy, day 1, Ranji Trophy, January 23, 2025 From a troubled cricketing past to a generation of homegrown stars, Kashmir is slowly reclaiming its place on India’s cricket m He is no longer a white-ball regular and has lost the Test vice-ctaincy, but he isn’t worried by all that. All he wants, he says, is to focus on “whatever is in front of me” Rishabh Pant in action, India A vs South Africa A, 1st unofficial Test, 1st day, CoE 1, October 30, 2025 Having spent the past seven months in rehab, the fast bowler is all set to play in the Irani Cup against Jammu and Kashmir Akash Deep struck twice early on the final day, England vs India, 2nd Test, 5th day, Birmingham, July 6, 2025 The 41-year-old will kick off his 25th first-class season by leading Jammu & Kashmir in the Irani Cup against Rest of India in Srinagar Paras Dogra brings up his hundred, Delhi vs Jammu and Kashmir, 2nd day, Delhi, Ranji Trophy, November 9, 2025 The hosts lost Sai Sudharsan a few minutes before stumps on day three, still needing another 337 runs for victory Sam Harper has had a breakthrough season with the bat across formats and might be in the mix for higher honours for Australia Sam Harper scored his sixth first-class hundred, India A vs Australia A, 2nd unofficial Test, Puducherry, 1st day, September 29, 2026 The Australia A ctain has embraced his reputation but believes his county and Shield experience have shown he can succeed in all conditions Peter Handscomb ctained the Prime Minister’s XI, Prime Minister’s XI vs England XI, Canberra, November 29, 2025 Devdutt Padikkal might have taken away his No. 3 spot from the Test XI, but B Sai Sudharsan is back batting and scoring runs, and planning to a lot more of both The result sets up the first India vs Pakistan final this year, with the Asian Games gold medal at stake Ishan Kishan brought up a quick half-century, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games men’s competition, semi-final, Nisshin, October 1, 2026 Green suffered a blow in the groin while batting and did not field despite being set to bowl while Renshaw was forced off the field due to a blow on the wrist and did not return Cameron Green reacts after copping a blow while batting, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 SA vs Aus, 3rd ODI – Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa star as Australia win rain-affected finale Alex Carey takes evasive action, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 Batters have now been discouraged from using delay tactics by the changes to the ICC playing conditions A general view of play at The Oval, Surrey vs Essex, County Championship, Division One, Kia Oval, May 23, 2025 Batters can now be slped with a five-run penalty if they are found to be wasting time on three occasions in a single innings, and women’s cricket now has a distinctly-specified cricket ball size.

These are the most-recent changes to the ICC’s playing conditions and will take effect from October 1, 2026. The latest ICC release also mentions changes that have already been proven. Pink balls have been confirmed as being available in daytime Tests, and a wicket in the final over of the day does not automatically result in stumps being called in multi-day matches.

The major change is that batters found to be wasting time on three occasions within an 80-over block, are liable to lose five runs for their team. According to the ICC release, “If a batsman is not ready to face the ball within the stipulated time, a warning will be issued for the first offence, a final warning for the second, and five penalty runs awarded to the fielding side for the third and each subsequent offence.” “Set time” is largely the time it takes for a fielding team and bowler to prepare for the next delivery. When the bowler is at the top of their proach, the batter is generally expected to be ready to receive the delivery.

The main exceon is when a dismissal has occurred, in which case the batter is given two minutes to enter the field and prepare for their first ball, or risk being timed out. In any case, batters still get two warnings from the bowler’s end umpire before their teams are docked runs. Condition 41.10.3 of the playing conditions now read: If the striker is not ready as required in 41.10.2 and so delays play: on the first such occasion in an innings, the bowler’s end umpire shall issue a warning to the striker and inform the non-striker, and each incoming batter, the ctain of the fielding side and the other umpire of what has occurred.

On the second occasion in an innings, the above sequence is repeated, but with the reminder that this is a final warning. On the third and any subsequent occasions in an innings, the last umpire to bowl will award five (5) penalty runs to the fielding side, informing the batsmen, the ctain of the fielding side and the second umpire. In multi-day cricket, warnings are rescheduled after 80 overs and after a block of 80 overs of the same innings. Meanwhile, women’s cricket will have its own uniform ball.

“For women’s and junior cricket, manufacturers have often produced a single ball for both categories,” the ICC release said. “New limits have now been introduced, establishing three distinct size and weight specifications for men’s, women’s and junior cricket.” Other changes the ICC announced include giving the umpire “greater leeway in determining whether a ball is finally settled, which can often be extremely important, particularly on the final ball of a close game. The ball no longer must necessarily be in the bowler’s or wicketkeeper’s hands to be finally settled.” The ICC has also clarified that to effect a run-out or stumping, the fielder/wicketkeeper must have complete control of the ball.

Merely touching the ball and breaking the stump does not matter. A general view of play at The Oval, Surrey vs Essex, County Championship, Division One, Kia Oval, May 23, 2025 Last over in multi-day cricket to continue despite a wicket after latest amendments to Laws Andrew Fidel Fernando is a senior writer at .