FREE HITS & SOFT-SIGNALS: ICC announces new playing conditions

The International Cricket Council has announced changes to its Playing Conditions after the Chief Executives’ Committee ratified recommendations from the Sourav Ganguly-led Men’s Cricket Committee which were also endorsed by the Women’s Cricket Committee.

The main changes to the playing conditions, which come into effect on 1 June 2023 with the Lord’s Test between England and Ireland, (and will apply to the ICC Men’s World Cup Qualifier 2023 in Zimbabwe) are:

Soft signal: Umpires will no longer be required to give a soft signal while referring decisions to the TV umpires. The on-field umpires will consult with the TV umpire before any decisions are taken.

Helmets: Helmet protection will be mandatory in international cricket for the following high injury risk positions: (i) when batters are facing fast bowlers, (ii) when wicketkeepers are standing up to the stumps, and (iii) when fielders are close to the batter in front of the wicket.

Runs off a Free Hit: Any runs scored off a Free Hit when the ball hits the stumps will count as runs scored, to be consistent with all other runs scored from a free hit.

And so it has happened.