SL vs BAN 1st ODI marks debut of ICC’s game-changing one-ball rule
ICC’s new ODI rule mandating a single ball from the 35th over onwards comes into play during Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, aiming to revive reverse swing and balance the contest.
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In an important day for global cricket, the ICC's new one-ball rule for One Day Internationals took effect in earnest during the first ODI between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on July 2 at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. As per the revised playing conditions, teams will now use only one ball from the 35th over onwards, with the fielding captain choosing which of the two previously used balls will continue. This marks the end of the decade-long two-new-ball era that had heavily tilted the game in favour of batters.
Until now, ODIs were played with two new balls, one from each end, throughout the 50 overs. Nevertheless, the two-ball system will continue to operate just for the first 34 overs. From the 35th over onwards, only one of them will be employed for the rest of the innings. This was witnessed live during the match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, when Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz was requested by the umpire to choose one ball after the 34th over, marking the first official use of the new rule.
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ICC's One-Ball Rule Brings Back Balance Between Bat and Ball
The introduction is part of a wider overhaul of ICC playing conditions brought in during July 2025. The objective is to rebuild a fairer contest between bat and ball, which has diminished over the years. The employment of two new hard balls had rendered conditions more batter-friendly, drastically cutting down the possibility of reverse swing and leaving middle-overs bowlers disadvantaged. By re-implementing the practice of using a lone, vintage ball from the 35th over, the ICC attempts to restore late-game unpredictability and assist bowlers in gaining control over the death overs.
This change has been universally accepted by ex-players and pundits who believe that it will challenge a tactical re-think for coaches and captains alike. Lower middle-order hitters, more so than anyone else, are set to find the going more difficult, particularly on subcontinental surfaces. With the 2027 World Cup looming, teams will now have to rethink their plans in order to make themselves ready to play in what many consider to be a much-needed readjustment of the balance of power in ODI cricket.
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