In a major move aimed at preserving the fairness of the game, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has updated its Playing Conditions, with a special focus on tightening the law around concussion substitutes. The changes, which come into effect in Tests from June and in white-ball formats from July, follow intense debate triggered by an incident during India’s T20I series against England earlier this year.
The spotlight fell on the concussion substitute rule during the fourth T20I between India and England. India replaced Shivam Dube, a batting all-rounder who rarely bowls, with Harshit Rana, a frontline fast bowler. Rana then played a key role, taking three wickets in pace-friendly conditions. While the substitution was allowed under existing rules, critics, including then England captain Jos Buttler, questioned whether the change gave India a tactical edge rather than simply covering for an injured player.
Under the updated rules, teams will now have to name five designated concussion replacements before the start of each match. This list must include one player for each of the following roles: batter, wicketkeeper, seam bowler, spinner, and all-rounder. In case a replacement also suffers a concussion—a rare but possible scenario—match officials are allowed to approve another substitute, even if they weren’t on the original list, provided they still meet the like-for-like requirement.
The aim is to bring more structure and transparency to the process, ensuring that substitutions don’t unintentionally tilt the balance of the game.
The revised rules will come into force starting with the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Test in Galle on June 17. For ODIs and T20Is, the updates kick in during Sri Lanka’s white-ball series against Bangladesh in July.
The concussion law isn’t the only rule being amended by the ICC. Cricket’s governing body has also announced a change in how balls are used in One Day Internationals. Currently, two new balls are used throughout the innings. However, from July onward, only the first 34 overs will be played with two balls. For the final 16 overs, the fielding side must pick one of the two balls to finish the innings.
In matches reduced to 25 overs or fewer, just one new ball will be used per innings.
The adjustment comes in response to growing concerns that two hard, newer balls throughout the 50 overs significantly reduce the role of spin and reverse swing, both of which have traditionally added variety to the format.
These changes reflect the ICC’s growing focus on competitive balance and player safety. While the concussion sub rule was designed with health in mind, its application had left room for interpretation. Now, with clearer guidelines, the ICC hopes to protect both the integrity of the game and the wellbeing of its players.