ODI cricket: What are the observed & expected consequences of usage of one ball after 34th over?

ODI cricket evolution: Analysing the impact of using one ball after 34 overs on run rates, batting, and match outcomes.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) approved changes to the two-ball rule in men’s ODIs, effective from July 2025. The revised playing conditions were recommended by the ICC’s men’s cricket committee, headed by Sourav Ganguly, with the aim of restoring balance to the 55-year-old format.

Under the existing rule, each innings begins with two new balls. However, under the revised playing conditions, the two new balls will be used from the start of the innings until the end of the 34th over. From overs 35 to 50, the bowling side will use one selected ball from both ends, while the other ball will be kept as a spare in case it is required.

The cricket committee had initially considered changing the ball earlier, after 25 overs. However, reports suggested that the proposal did not find much favour within the committee, which felt that using one ball for the final 17 overs struck the right balance.

The current rule was introduced by the ICC in October 2011, having been in place in various forms earlier, including during the 1992 World Cup. However, for a few years prior to 2011, ODI playing conditions mandated a ball change at the 34th over of an innings. The ball was replaced with another that had seen similar use, but was cleaner and easier to sight.

Read More: Explainer: Recent rule changes sanctioned by ICC

ODI’s revised rule plays its trick
From the beginning of 2023 to the end of June 2025, New Zealand registered the most ODI runs (3411) in overs 35-50. South Africa managed 3213 runs at a strike rate of 125.17, while India cracked 3323 runs at a strike rate of 110.95.

Teams’ batting performance from Jan 2023 to Jun 2025

However, the new rule soaked the batting power. Since the beginning of July 2025, Sri Lanka have enjoyed the most ODI runs (725) in just eight innings during the overs between 35 and 50. The Proteas have lost 36 wickets in this aspect at an average of 20.56. Meanwhile, Bangladesh have struggled with an average of 14, losing 32 wickets in seven innings.

Read More: Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma bring back zest into fans; What is their value beyond cricket for India?

Teams’ batting performance since Jul, 2025

In the case of bowling, it’s a different picture. From the beginning of 2023 to the end of June last year, all teams had an ODI economy rate of over six in overs 35 to 50. The Blackcaps picked up the most wickets (159) in 41 innings.

Read More: Why India’s bowling attack is a powerhouse in ODI middle overs?

Team’s bowling performance from Jan 2023 to Jun 2025

However, after the ODI playing conditions were revised, South Africa have picked up the most wickets (32) in overs 35 to 50. But the economy rate continues to go over six for most teams.

Teams’ bowling performance since Jul, 2025

From the start of 2023 to the end of June 2025, the pacers mostly had an economy rate of over seven. New Zealand’s pacers picked up the most ODI wickets (114) in overs 35 to 50 at an economy rate of 7.56. Subsequently, the change of rule has seen Pakistan picking the most wickets (23) at an economy rate of 6.49.

The revised rule has had minimal impact on the role of spinners. India’s spinners had 52 ODI wickets at an economy rate of 5.05 from the start of 2023 to the end of June 2025 in overs 35 to 50. In the last seven months, the economy has reached 5.21 for their nine wickets in five innings. Bangladesh enjoyed a fine economy of 4.71, but that was because of the spin-friendly home surfaces.

Read More: IND vs SA ODIs 2025-26: India lack strong engine room at the backend (no. 6-8) unlike SA

Reverse swing may come into play under revised ODI conditions
It is still early days for the revised ODI rule of using one ball after the 34th over. Only 38 ODIs have been played in the last seven months under this change. As teams play more matches, the impact of the new rule is expected to become clearer and more significant.

Batting is likely to become increasingly challenging, particularly for lower-order batters who arrive fresh at the crease. Slogging from the first ball will no longer be straightforward against an older ball that tends to grip the surface.

More teams are also expected to turn to spinners in the death overs. This mirrors an earlier phase of ODI cricket, when spinners continued to play a role even beyond the 40th over of an innings.

In subcontinental conditions, reverse swing is set to make a comeback. With an ageing ball, fast bowlers will look to maintain one shiny side while exploiting the rough surface on the other. Pace-off deliveries, too, should become more effective against batters. This change was particularly necessary to curb the growing trend of teams regularly breaching the 375–400 run mark in ODIs, which had begun to undermine bowling efforts.

India have already played six ODIs under the revised rule: three each against South Africa and Australia. They are scheduled to play three more against New Zealand, starting on January 11 at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara.

Read More: How teams have bowled phase-wise in T20Is post T20 WC 2024 (Test-playing nations)