What is ICC’s new rule about over-rates and how can it affect teams?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has come up with a new role for slow overrates in T20I cricket. As per this norm, a team can keep just four, as opposed to five, players outside the 30-yard circle if they are behind time by the start of the last over. If this rule comes into play, the side at fault will have a massive disadvantage considering the dynamics of T20 cricket.

“A fielding side must be in a position to bowl the first ball of the final over of the innings by the scheduled or rescheduled time for the end of the innings. If they are not in such a position, one fewer fielder will be permitted outside of the 30-yard circle for the remaining overs of the innings,” stated the official website of ICC.

Notably, England and Wales Cricket Board implemented a similar rule in the inaugural season of The Hundred. As the fear of repercussions made teams keep an eye on the clock, ICC also decided to bring this rule into action. The first match to be played under the revised playing conditions was the one-off T20I between West Indies and Ireland on January 16.

How the new rule will impact the game?

Meanwhile, the trending question is how will this rule affect the dynamics of the game? The final over of a T20I innings is seen as one of the crucial phases of the game. With just six balls remaining, the batters have the license to slash their bat hard to accumulate maximum runs. In order to avoid the same, the fielding team places their best fielders at crucial positions. With one fewer fielder available at boundaries, bowlers will have their task cut out.  

Saying this rule can become the difference between winning and losing won’t be an overstatement. Hence, the fielding team can’t afford to waste too much time in planning strategies midway in the game. Notably, the time lost due to injuries, DRS reviews, or any other unforeseen incident, is bound to affect the end time, and hence, the time will be revised.

Meanwhile, ICC also introduced optional drinks break midway through the innings in a bilateral T20I match as part of its updated playing conditions.