Limited overs cricket began with the introduction of One Day International (ODI) cricket. The matches became an instant hit as the result of the match was revealed on the same day, unlike test cricket wherein a match can last for five days. Both teams bat for 50 innings each and the team with more runs wins the match.
As a white colored cork ball is used in One Day Internationals, the limited overs game is also referred as white ball cricket. Like the red ball, the white ball too deteriorates due to the wear and tear on the ball as the match progresses. Before 2011, a new ball was taken at the start of each innings. Thus, the same ball was used for entirety of the innings.
This rule changed in 2011, when the officials decided that each innings will be played with two new balls. Both these balls will be taken at the start of the innings. Moreover, both balls will have a dedicated end of the pitch from which they can be used. When the match begins, the bowler’s end umpire gives the new ball to the bowler. In the next over, the square leg umpire of the first over hands the second new ball to the bowler who will bowl the second over. The first new ball stats with the bowler’s end umpire of the first over who now becomes the square leg umpire for the second over.
Though the new rule looks unbiased, it has taken away the element of reverse swing from the sport. Reverse swing used to be a highlight before 2011 as skilled bowlers could swing the old ball in the opposite direction. The new rules saw that each ball could be used for 25 overs. Thus, there is not enough wear and tear on the ball to execute the reverse swing.
To reintroduce the art of reverse swing the International Cricket Council revised the law in 2025 by suggesting that while two new balls will indeed be taken from the first over of the innings, they could be used only till the 34th over. In the last 16 overs of the innings, the bowling side can choose any one of the two balls which will be used for the remainder of the innings.
Thus, the new balls taken at the start of the innings continue till the 34th over, with one of them being retained for the last 16 overs.
