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SL vs BAN 1st ODI Witnesses History As ICC’s New Rule Debuts In Colombo

Kaushik Kashyap

ICC's New One Ball Rule. [Source - Criccrazyjohns/x.com]ICC's New One Ball Rule. [Source - Criccrazyjohns/x.com]

In a significant turn of events, the ICC’s new ODI rule of mandating the use of only one ball from the 34th over onwards has officially come into play. This change is being implemented for the first time in the ongoing first ODI between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Wednesday, July 2nd at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

One-Ball Rule Is Back In ODIs

Earlier this year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had announced a set of new playing conditions to be introduced in international cricket starting July, 2025. Among the most notable changes made was the reintroduction of a single ball in ODIs, a move designed to keep the contest balanced between bat and ball.

Until now, for more than a decade, ODIs were played with two new balls, one from each end. But now under the new rule, two balls will still be used as before only for the first 34 overs of the innings. From the 35th over onwards, only one of those two balls, selected by the fielding side, will be used for the remainder of the innings.

And that's what happened when Najmul Shanto completed the 34th over against Sri Lanka and the on-field Umpire was seen asking Bangladesh’s captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz to choose one of the two balls for the rest of the innings.

After Heavy Criticism, ICC Finally Levels the Playing Field

This indicated the first instance of the new rule being applied in an ODI since the changes being made. Additionally, if a match gets reduced to 25 overs or fewer before it starts, only one new ball will be used for the entire innings.

This change has been widely welcomed, as the use of two new balls had nearly erased reverse swing from ODIs, giving batters an undue advantage late in the innings. Recognizing this growing criticism and the need to give something for the bowlers, the ICC has finally acted, making one of the most significant updates to the playing conditions. 

Several other new rules for Test cricket have come into effect following the World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa last month at Lord’s. Changes to white-ball cricket were introduced starting today, with the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh ODI on July 2 and the T20I rules will take charge on July 10 in Pallekele.