Batters face five-run penalty for time wasting under new ICC rules

Batters can now lose five runs for their team if they are caught wasting time repeatedly during an innings, under new ICC playing conditions that take effect from October 1, 2026.

The latest changes also give women’s cricket its own distinct ball size and weight standard.

The time-wasting rule is designed to stop batters from using delay tactics, with the penalty kicking in once a batter has been found guilty three times in the same innings.

The first offence brings a warning from the bowler’s end umpire, while a second offence results in a final warning.

On the third occasion, and on every one after that, the fielding side will be awarded five penalty runs.

Batters are expected to be ready in roughly the time it takes the bowler and fielders to prepare, which generally means the striker should be set once the bowler reaches the top of their run-up.

The main exception comes after a dismissal, when the incoming batter is given two minutes to walk out and prepare for their first ball or risk being timed out.

In multi-day matches, the warnings reset after each block of 80 overs within the same innings.

Each time a warning is given, the umpire must inform the non-striker, every incoming batter, the fielding captain and the other umpire.

Until now, manufacturers often produced a single ball for both women’s and junior cricket, but the ICC has introduced three separate size and weight specifications for the men’s, women’s and junior games.

Umpires now have greater freedom to decide when a ball is finally settled, which can prove vital on the last ball of a close game.

Under the updated wording, the ball no longer has to be in the hands of the bowler or wicketkeeper to be considered dead.

The ICC has also made it clear that a fielder or wicketkeeper must have full control of the ball to complete a run-out or stumping, so simply touching it while breaking the stumps is not enough.

Previously approved changes were also confirmed, with pink balls now available for daytime Tests and a wicket in the final over of a day no longer automatically ending play in multi-day matches.