ICC introduce changes to playing conditions, come into effect ahead of T20 World Cup

New batters coming in at the striker's end and a ban on using saliva to polish the ball are among the changes as well as the introduction of in-match slow-over rate penalties in ODI matches from 2023

The ICC have introduced a number of changes to cricket's playing conditions, which will come into effect on October 1, 2022 – in time for the T20 World Cup in Australia.

The recommended changes to the laws of cricket were issued by the men's cricket committee and were endorsed by the women's committee.

Among the changes are:

• When a batter is out caught, the new batter will come in at the striker's end, regardless of whether the batters crossed prior to the catch. Previously, crossing would allow the new batter to come in at the non-striker's end.
• The use of saliva to polish balls, a practice which was temporarily banned during Covid-19, has been permanently outlawed.

^{The changes will come into effect ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia [Paul Kane/Getty Images]}

• Incoming batters must be ready to take strike within two minutes in Tests and ODIs, with fielding captains able to appeal for timed out if they fail to do so. The threshold was previously three minutes.
• A batter's movement will be restricted to within the pitch, or the delivery will be called dead. Any ball which forces the batter to leave the pitch will be called no ball.
• Any unfair and deliberate movement by the fielding side while the bowler is running in to bowl could result in the umpire awarding five penalty runs to the batting side, in addition to the call of dead ball.
• Running out the non-striker for backing up, commonly known as Mankading, is no longer "unfair play" and will be considered a regular run-out.
• Bowlers will not be allowed to throw the ball at the striker's end before completing their delivery in an attempt to run-out the advancing striker. This will now be called a dead ball.

Following the completion of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League in 2023, in-match slow over rate penalties will be introduced to ODI cricket.

These were previously introduced to T20Is in January 2022, with the failure of the fielding team to bowl their overs within the allotted time resulting in an additional fielder being brought inside the circle for the remainder of the innings.