New rules for one-day cricket

The International Cricket Council have introduced two new rule changes into limited-overs international matches on a 10-month trial basis on July 30, the revised start date for the three-nation series in the "resplendent island."

The new rules, which were approved at a meeting of the chief executives’ committee at the ICC’s headquarters at Lord’s, will see an increase of the current 15 overs fielding restrictions and the introduction of substitutes. Under the new rules, there is an increase from 15 to 20 overs of fielding restrictions, where teams are only allowed two players outside of the 30-yard circle.

Unlike the current system, this means West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul will have to contend with fielding restrictions for the first 10 overs plus two additional blocks of five overs that he would have chosen prior to taking the field.

The chief executives also decided that the additional "close-catcher" field restrictions, where two stationary players must be within the 15-yard "inner circle," would only apply for the first 10 overs. In a serious break from the long traditions of the game, coach Bennett King will now have option of football-style replacements that will permit teams to replace a player at any stage of a match. The replaced player will be ruled out of the rest of the match, while the replacement will be entitled to assume any remaining batting or bowling duties. Both players will receive a cap.

Right now, substitutes in all forms of cricket are only permitted to field.

Next year, the changes will come under review from the ICC’s Cricket Committee that is chaired by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.

The chief executives also endorsed the proposal to undertake a technology trial during the Super Series in Australia during October. They approved the establishment of an expert panel to work with the Marylebone Cricket Club in Britain and bat manufacturers to review the laws and regulations governing the manufacture of cricket bats.