From July, men’s T20 sides will have to think in balls rather than overs whenever rain trims a match. The ICC has approved a simple – if slightly fiddly – tweak: when an innings is cut short, the powerplay will now be rounded to the nearest ball, not the nearest over.
At present every T20I starts with six overs of fielding restrictions. If play is reduced, umpires round down (or up) to whole overs, which can swing the balance. Under the new table, an eight-over chase will give batters 2.2 overs of powerplay; a nine-over innings will see 2.4 overs with only two fielders outside the circle. In practice, the umpire will lift the arm part-way through an over – two balls into the third in the eight-over scenario – and an extra three boundary riders may then drop back.
“This table has been used in the T20 Blast in England for many years, where ending a powerplay midway through an over has caused no difficulty for players or officials,” the ICC told members. The same memo added: “It has now been accepted by the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee as the preferred method moving forward.”
Coaches who like neat, whole numbers will grumble, but the percentages are closer to the original idea: roughly 30% of any innings inside the fielding circle, no more, no less. It should also mean fewer late-innings complaints from bowling sides who feel they have lost an over of protection.
The powerplay tweak is one of several new playing-condition updates. A stop-clock to police over-rates in Tests is already live for the next World Test Championship cycle. Television umpires will also be allowed to check the fairness of a catch when ruling on a front-foot no-ball, closing an awkward loophole. And domestic first-class teams will be permitted to use full-time concussion (and other medical) substitutes, aligning with the international game.
All white-ball changes kick in on 2 July. There is still time for sides to run a few drills and get bowlers comfortable with an umpire suddenly signalling the end of a powerplay halfway through their over – a small adjustment, but one worth rehearsing.
