The ICC is trying to speed up Test cricket by introducing a stop clock to deal with slow over rates. Also, fielding teams can now pick which batter faces the next ball if there’s a deliberate short run. These are part of the new playing rules for the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle which started with Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh in Galle.
Over Start Rule
Like in shorter formats of the game, a stop clock will be used to cut down on slow over rates. The fielding team has 60 seconds to start each over once the previous one ends. A clock will count up from zero to 60 seconds at the ground.
If the fielding team isn’t ready in time, they’ll get two warnings. After that, the batting side gets five penalty runs. These warnings reset after 80 overs, said the ICC.
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Rule Regarding Saliva
Also, ESPNcricinfo says the ICC isn’t telling umpires to change the ball if saliva is found on it anymore. The rule against using saliva is still in place. Some think fielding teams might put saliva on the ball on purpose to get it changed but the current rules don’t say anything about this.
DRS New Rule
The ICC also clarified that if both a player and the umpire review a decision, they’ll happen in order. If an on-field umpire calls a batter “out,” that’s the default decision for any review that follows.
For example, if a batter challenges a caught-behind decision and is ruled not out because the ball hit their pads, the TV umpire will then check for leg-before-wicket (LBW). In this case, the default decision for LBW will be “out,” and if the ball-tracking says umpire’s call, the batter is out.
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Deliberate Short Runs
Regarding deliberate short runs, the ICC said it’s when batters try to make it look like they ran more than one run but at least one of them doesn’t actually complete the run. Batters can stop running if the umpire thinks there’s no intention to cheat or score a run without making proper ground.
If this happens, the umpire will disallow all runs, send any not-out batter back to their original end, signal a no-ball or wide if needed, tell the scorers about the short run, give five penalty runs to the fielding side and ask the captain to choose which batter will face the next ball.The TV umpire will now check if a catch off a no-ball is fair. If it’s fair, the batting side gets an extra run for the no-ball. If it’s not clean, the batting side gets the runs they would have scored. Previously the TV umpire didn’t need to check the fairness of a catch off a no-ball.
