The International Cricket Council has approved a trial that allows a switch from a red ball to a pink ball in Test matches where bad light is expected to be a problem. The decision came out of the ICC Board meeting held in Ahmedabad on Sunday, following recommendations from the Chief Executives Committee.
The move is aimed at reducing overs and time lost due to poor light during Test cricket. Under the new trial, both participating teams must agree to the change before the start of the match.
What the New Rule Actually Means
Until now, pink balls have been used only in day-night Test matches. The new trial opens the door for a red-to-pink ball change in day Tests where bad light is likely to cause disruptions. If the switch happens, play can continue under artificial lighting instead of being stopped.
The key condition here is consent. Both teams have to agree before the match begins. Neither side can be forced into the change. This makes the trial voluntary in nature, and whether teams will actually take up the option remains to be seen.
The ICC confirmed that the new playing conditions will not be ready in time for the England versus New Zealand Test series beginning June 4. So the earliest this trial could be used in a match is sometime after that series gets underway.
ICC Also Investing in Lighting Research
Beyond the ball change trial, the ICC said it will invest in research on better lighting technology for venues and match officials. The goal is to reduce the overall impact of poor light on matches. This research will be a joint effort with the Marylebone Cricket Club, with the ICC co-funding the project alongside MCC.
This signals that the red-to-pink ball swap is not the only solution the ICC is pursuing. Better floodlights and smarter lighting standards at grounds could be a longer-term answer to the bad light problem that has frustrated players and fans for decades.
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Other Rule Changes Approved at the Same Meeting
The Ahmedabad board meeting produced several other decisions alongside the ball change trial.
Head coaches, or designated staff, will now be allowed to enter the field during scheduled drinks breaks in ODIs and T20Is to speak directly with players. This was previously not permitted in international cricket, though franchise leagues like the IPL have allowed it through strategic timeouts. The ICC has now brought international cricket in line with that practice.
In T20 internationals, the break between innings has been set at 15 minutes, and batters must be ready to resume play at that point.
The ICC also confirmed it is making permanent a trial that gave bowlers more leeway on wide calls down the leg side. Guide lines will be used to help umpires make those calls, particularly when batters move around the crease.
On bowling actions, the ICC said match officials will now have access to Hawk-Eye data when deciding whether to report a bowler for a suspect action.
Together, these changes reflect a push by the ICC to modernise playing conditions and reduce disruptions across all formats of the game.
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