Cricket gets new stumping rules to prevent misuse of DRS referrals. Details here

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made significant changes to playing conditions, introducing changes to stumping and concussion substitute rules. Under the new regulations, umpires will only assess side-on replays for stumping during Decision Review System (DRS) referrals, not the possibility of caught-behind scenarios. If a team wishes to refer to a caught-behind incident during a stumping, they must now exercise a separate DRS option for the caught-behind appeal.

The stumping appeal will now only showcase images from the side-on camera, with umpires solely considering them without inspecting for a snick. This change in rule follows instances where Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey utilized reviews for caught-behind after a stumping without utilizing the team's DRS option.

The ICC's amendment specifies that the stumping review is confined to checking for being stumped, preventing the fielding team from receiving a free review for other dismissal modes, such as caught behind, without opting for a player review.


Additionally, the ICC has introduced more clarity in the concussion replacement rule. According to the updated regulation, the substitute player will not be allowed to bowl if the replaced player was suspended from bowling at the time of the concussion incident. Furthermore, the global governing body has imposed a four-minute time limit for on-field injury assessment and treatment.

Earlier, in a bid to expedite the pace of play in international cricket, the ICC has initiated a trial of the 'stop clock' in full-member men's ODI and T20I matches between December 2023 and April 2024. This new rule aims to reduce the time between overs, requiring the bowling team to be ready within 60 seconds of the previous over's completion. Failure to comply, after two warnings, will result in a five-run penalty against the fielding team.

An ICC official said that it is part of efforts to hasten the pace of play across international cricket. He highlighted the stop clock trial as a follow-up to a successful playing condition introduced in 2022, restricting the fielding team to four fielders outside the inner circle if they were unable to bowl the first ball of their final over within the stipulated time. The outcomes of the stop clock trial will be assessed at the end of the trial period. (With
Agency Inputs)