The change in playing conditions is making life harder for batters in the closing overs, while giving fast bowlers greater scope to influence the outcome of matches
London, Oct 19: A change in playing conditions introduced more than a year ago is beginning to reshape the closing stages of one-day international (ODI) cricket, with reverse swing offering fast bowlers greater assistance and making life increasingly difficult for batters at the death.
England will face Pakistan on Tuesday as the debate over the rule gathers momentum ahead of next year’s World Cup. The revised conditions, introduced in July 2025, allow captains to choose one of the two white balls being used in an innings after 34 overs, with the selected ball used for the remainder of the innings.
The intention was to give bowlers a better opportunity to extract movement from an older ball. Statistics since the change suggest that the measure is having the desired effect, although its influence varies across playing conditions and teams.
Reverse swing makes a comeback
Reverse swing occurs when an older ball moves through the air in the opposite direction to conventional swing, allowing fast bowlers to trouble batters even during the latter stages of an innings.England’s Sam Curran offered a striking example in the third ODI against India at Lord’s in July. According to BBC analysis, Curran generated more than twice as much swing during his final spell with the older ball as he had at the start of the innings.
The broader figures support the trend. Since the rule was introduced, 50% of full-length deliveries bowled by pacers in the final 10 overs have swung by more than one degree, compared with 35% during the preceding 18 months.
The change has also affected scoring rates. Fast bowlers’ economy rate during the final five overs has declined from 8.40 runs per over to 7.95, while their bowling average has improved from 19.2 to 18.3 runs per wicket.
The figures suggest that the traditional late-innings assault is becoming more challenging, particularly when bowlers can combine accurate lengths with movement through the air.
England adapt to changing conditions
England have recorded significant improvements in their death bowling since the introduction of the rule. Their bowling average in the closing overs has dropped from 36.76 to 20.91, while their economy rate has fallen from 9.78 to 7.53.
Their batting, meanwhile, has become more productive during the same period, with the run rate rising from 8.07 to 9.16. However, the improvement cannot be attributed entirely to the rule change, as England have also made progress in ODI cricket this year.Coach Brendon McCullum drew attention to the importance of the ball after England suffered a 16-run defeat against Sri Lanka at Headingley last month, urging his players to reconsider their approach.
Sri Lanka’s pacers used fuller deliveries effectively in that match, with 69% of their deliveries pitched six metres from the stumps or closer. Their disciplined approach helped restrict England and demonstrated how late movement can undermine aggressive batting.
England, however, showed their ability to capitalise before the ball selection comes into play, moving from 104-2 to 214-2 in the 10 overs before Sri Lanka made their choice at The Oval three days later.
Impact felt across international cricket
The effect has extended beyond England, with Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan all recording slower scoring rates during the final overs since the rule change. West Indies have seen their death-overs run rate fall by 2.39 runs per over.
Individual pacers have also benefited. West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has recorded an 84% increase in average swing, while his bowling average has improved from 24.1 to 17.4. South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi has seen his average swing rise by 63.3%, with his economy rate dropping from 9.34 to six runs per over and his bowling average falling to 13.England’s Jofra Archer has also extracted more movement, with his average swing in the closing overs increasing by 37% to 0.97 degrees. Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi, who averages 1.3 degrees of swing at the death under the revised conditions, could pose a significant challenge when the teams meet. (Agencies)