TestCloud
Prep • Practice • Perform
Log In

ICC Introduces ‘Stop-Clock’ and New Playing Conditions for WTC 2025–27.

Sports | Dated: 27 Jun 2025

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has brought in major playing-condition changes for the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle—including the first-ever stop-clock in Tests and new tactical rules to speed up play and improve fairness.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - The ICC now requires fielding teams to begin each over within 60 seconds of the previous one’s completion. Violations earn two warnings; a third breach results in a five-run penalty awarded to the batting side. The clock resets after every 80 overs.
  • - The stop-clock rule mirrors white-ball cricket’s ‘powerplay’ system and aims to check slow-paced overs in Tests—a recurring problem that disrupted match flow. It’s already active in WTC matches since the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh series in Galle.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) In cases of deliberate short runs, fielding teams can now choose which batter will take strike next—adding tactical depth and discouraging unfair batting tactics.
  • (ii) The ICC also refined DRS protocols: if an umpire’s out decision is upheld by tracker as “umpire’s call,” the decision now remains out. Additionally, umpires are no longer required to change the ball just because saliva was used—although the saliva ban stays.
  • (iii) The updated rules now allow the third umpire to verify a catch taken off a no-ball. If deemed fair, the batting side earns a run; if not, they get the runs completed before the catch—reducing contentious decisions.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Recently, ICC began enforcing which timing mechanism in Test cricket to speed up the game and penalize time-wasting?

Correct Answer: Stop Clock

🚀 Quick Recap: