White-ball cricket's rules makeover

Rule changes affecting 50-over one-day and Twenty20 international cricket matches will take effect from July 5.

The International Cricket Council says the aim is to restore the balance between bat and ball after this year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand yielded the largest number of 300 and even 400-plus totals at the ICC's showpiece tournament.

From July 5, five fielders will be allowed outside the 30-yard circle between the 41st and 50th overs, rather than the current four.

Meanwhile there will be no compulsory catchers from the first to the 10th over in ODIs and no batting powerplays will be allowed between the 15th and 40th overs.

In both ODI and T20 internationals, all no-balls, not just foot faults, will lead to a free hit.

David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, speaking about the changes, in a statement issued Friday from the global governing body's annual conference in Barbados, said: "We have thoroughly reviewed the ODI format after a very successful ICC Cricket World Cup.

"There was no need to make any radical changes to what has proved to be a vibrant and popular format but we wanted to take this opportunity to make the format simpler and easier to follow for the public as well as maintaining a balance between bat and ball.

The former South Africa wicket-keeper added: "In making these adjustments, we have tried to ensure that ODI cricket retains the attacking, aggressive and thrilling brand, which has recently become the hallmark of 50-over cricket and sets us on a positive path to the next World Cup in England in 2019."

Also coming out of the conference was the ICC Board vowing to adopt the recommendations of an Integrity Working Party which had been convened to review the global risks for international and domestic cricket created by the threat of corruption.

This decision will see a greater role for a central Anti-Corruption Unit and paves the way for greater coordination of preventative and investigative activity around the world with a unified vision to ‘keep cricket clean’.

Key recommendations that have been adopted include:

• Confirmation that the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) will be the central focal point for all anti-corruption activities in international and domestic cricket and have enhanced intelligence capabilities;
• Acknowledgement of the need for greater coordination between the ACU and national anti-corruption bodies;
• Affirmation of the ACU’s accountability for all international cricket with the ACU also serving as the central coordinator for multi-jurisdictional cases;
• Renewed emphasis on a programme that encompasses prevention, disruption, investigation and prosecution in that order of priority;
• A requirement for all Full Members and Associate Members with ODI and T20I status to review their anti-corruption resources and adopt an anti-corruption code which includes the core principles contained in the ICC’s domestic template code within six months;
• A requirement for all ICC Full Member countries and Associate Members with ODI and T20I status to review their anti-corruption resources to ensure they effectively protect domestic cricket;
• An international panel to be established from which the Members may, and the ICC will, draw their anti-corruption tribunals;
• The adoption of revised ‘standard operating procedures’ (SOPs) based on those formulated for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015;
• A thorough review of all training materials used for prevention, education and awareness to ensure that there is a consistency of message imparted, the most suitable and up to date techniques are used (such as video clips, scenarios and participative exercises) and records are retained of all those in receipt of training;
• The ICC and its Members to take active steps to lobby for the criminalisation of match fixing in sport in all Member countries and strengthen relationships with other anti-corruption stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies and betting monitoring companies.

“This has been an extensive exercise, which clearly reflects our seriousness, endeavor and commitment to addressing and eradicating the menace of corruption from cricket. The successful implementation of these recommendations will help reduce the threat level but we need to remain vigilant and maintain a zero-tolerance approach,” ICC Chairman Mr N.Srinivasan said.