Batters face five-run penalty for time wasting in new ICC playing conditions
Batters have now been discouraged from using delay tactics by the changes to the ICC playing conditions • Surrey CCC/Getty Images
Batters can now be slapped with a five-run penalty if they are found to be wasting time on three occasions in a single innings, and women's cricket now has a distinctly-specified cricket ball size. These are the most-recent changes to the ICC's playing conditions and will take effect from October 1, 2026.
Also mentioned in the latest ICC release are changes that had been approved already. Pink balls have been confirmed as being available in daytime Tests, and a wicket in the final over of the day does not automatically result in stumps being called in multi-day matches.
The major change is that batters found to be wasting time on three occasions within an 80-over block, are liable to lose five runs for their team. According to the ICC release, "if a batter is not ready to face the ball within the prescribed time, a warning will be issued for the first offence, a final warning for the second, and five penalty runs awarded to the fielding side for the third and each subsequent offence."
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The "prescribed time" is largely the amount of time that takes a fielding team and bowler to get ready for the next delivery. When the bowler is at the top of their approach, the batter is generally expected to be ready to receive the delivery. The main exception is when a dismissal has occurred, in which case the batter is given two minutes to enter the field and prepare for their first ball, or risk being timed out.
In any case, batters still get two warnings from the bowler's end umpire before their teams are docked runs. Condition 41.10.3 of the playing conditions now read: If the striker is not ready as required in 41.10.2 and so delays play:
- on the first such occasion in an innings, the bowler's end umpire shall issue a warning to the striker and inform the non-striker, and each incoming batter, the captain of the fielding side and the other umpire of what has occurred.
- on the second occasion in an innings, the above sequence is repeated, but with the reminder that this is a final warning.
- on the third and any subsequent occasion in an innings, the bowler's end umpire shall award five (5) Penalty runs to the fielding side, informing the batters, the captain of the fielding side and the other umpire
In multi-day cricket, the warnings re-set after 80 overs, and after any further 80-over blocks of that same innings.
Meanwhile, women's cricket will have its own uniform ball. "For women's and junior cricket, manufacturers have often produced a single ball for both categories," the ICC release said. "New limits have now been introduced, establishing three distinct size and weight specifications for men's, women's and junior cricket."
Other changes the ICC announced include giving the umpire "greater leeway in determining whether a ball is finally settled, which can often be extremely important, particularly on the final ball of a close game. The ball no longer must necessarily be in the bowler's or wicketkeeper's hands to be finally settled."
The ICC has also clarified that to effect a run-out or stumping, the fielder/wicketkeeper must have complete control of the ball. Merely touching the ball and breaking the stumps does not count.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is a senior writer at Cricinfo. @afidelf
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