How one rule change is altering the face of one-day cricket
Summary
A new rule in one-day international (ODI) cricket allows teams to choose which older white ball to use after 34 overs, increasing the use of reverse swing, a special ball movement. This change helps bowlers by making it harder for batsmen to score in the last overs and has already changed game strategies and results worldwide.Key Facts
- The rule change started in July 2025, letting captains pick one ball for the last 16 overs.
- Reverse swing occurs when an older ball moves differently through the air, making it harder for batsmen.
- Since the rule change, bowlers have swung the ball more in the last 10 overs (35% before, now 50%).
- Bowling economy rates (runs given per over) have improved from 8.40 to 7.95 in the last five overs.
- England’s bowling average in the death overs dropped from 36.76 to 20.91 and their batting run-rate increased.
- Teams like Sri Lanka, Australia, and West Indies have scored fewer runs in the death overs since the change.
- Bowlers like Windies’ Alzarri Joseph and South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi have found much more swing and improved averages.
- England coach Brendon McCullum said the game is different now because the ball plays a bigger role.
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