ICC Plans ODI Ball Rule Change to Balance Bat-Ball Dynamics

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is proposing a significant change to the two-ball rule in One Day Internationals (ODIs) to restore balance between bat and ball. Under the recommendation, each innings would start with two new balls, but after the 34th over, the fielding team would choose which ball to continue using, with both balls being 17 overs old at that point. This change aims to help bowlers generate more reverse swing and provide a fairer contest late in the innings, addressing concerns that the current setup favors batters. The proposal is currently under review by cricket boards, with feedback due by the end of the month, and could be formalized at the ICC's Annual General Meeting in July. Additionally, the ICC is considering implementing a 60-second stop clock in Test matches to combat slow over rates, a measure already in place for limited-overs formats.