ICC Considers Major Change to Two-Ball Rule in ODIs

The ICC is reportedly on the verge of making a significant tweak to the two-ball rule in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), in a move aimed at giving bowlers a fairer crack, especially in the latter stages of an innings. The proposed adjustment – suggested by the ICC's Cricket Committee led by former India skipper Sourav Ganguly – could bring reverse swing back into play, a skill that's all but disappeared in recent years.

Under the current setup, ODIs are played with two new balls, one from each end, with each ball used for only 25 overs. That means the white ball stays shiny and hard throughout the innings, which favors batters and leaves little chance for bowlers to work any magic with reverse swing. The proposed change keeps the two-ball rule but adds a new twist: after the 25-over mark, only one of those balls will be used for the remaining overs. This means a single ball will be in play for up to 37 or 38 overs, giving it time to naturally wear down and open the door for some late-inning swing. 

The move is likely to be discussed in more detail at the upcoming ICC meetings in Zimbabwe. It’s all about trying to restore some balance between bat and ball – a conversation that's been growing louder in recent years. Sachin Tendulkar has long criticized the existing rule, calling it a “perfect recipe for disaster.” In a post on social media, he pointed out, “We have not witnessed reverse swing, which is a big part of death overs, for a very long time.” Former fast bowler Brett Lee has echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing how bowlers are being taken out of the equation. 

What this change essentially does is bring the ball back to the kind of condition we used to see before the introduction of two new balls – enough wear and tear for bowlers to use reverse swing effectively, but not so much that the ball becomes unplayable or unfit for use. If implemented, it could change the dynamic of ODIs, giving bowlers something to work with in the final stretch of an innings while still maintaining the integrity of the white ball. Whether the change goes through remains to be seen, but it certainly has sparked renewed interest in how the game can evolve to offer something for everyone – batters, bowlers, and fans alike. 

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