Stop Clocks To Be Used In ODI and T20I Cricket

The International Cricket Council is introducing the trail ‘stop clocks’ between overs in men’s one-day and T20 internationals in an attempt to speed up the game.

The move was approved after the ICC board meeting and will be put to the test from December to April.

According to the stop clocks system, if the bowling team is not ready to bowl the next over within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed, a five-run penalty will be imposed the third time it happens in an innings.

ICC says, ‘The clock will be used to regulate the amount of time taken between overs’.

In both men’s and women’s cricket, the slow-over rates in limited-over cricket have been a big concern, and the penalties were introduced last year in both men’s and women’s cricket.

At present, if the fielding team fails to start the final over by the stipulated time, they are docked one fielder from outside the 30-yard circle. Stop clocks are being used in Tennis and other sports to speed up games.