New Ball Rules in Cricket: When and How Teams Can Take It

The decision to take the new ball — or, more surprisingly, to not take the new ball even when it is available — is one of the most tactically rich choices in Test cricket. A hard, shiny new ball swings through the air and bounces sharply off the pitch. A 60-over old ball, scuffed on one side and polished on the other, reverses swing unpredictably and at pace. Choosing between them is not as simple as it sounds.

This complete guide covers the rules governing when a new ball is available in each format, how those rules work in practice, and the fascinating strategic thinking that goes into a captain's new ball decision.

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What is the New Ball Rule?

In cricket, a "new ball" refers to a freshly manufactured cricket ball that has not been used in play. New balls are harder, have a pronounced raised seam, and are highly polished on both sides. These properties make a new ball ideal for swing and seam bowling — the ball moves through the air and off the pitch more readily than a worn ball.

As an innings progresses, the ball becomes scuffed, the lacquer wears off, and the surface becomes rougher and softer. The ball's behaviour changes: standard swing diminishes, and the outfield begins to rough up one side more than the other. Under the right conditions, this differential surface creates "reverse swing" — where the ball swings in the opposite direction from normal, often at higher pace. An old ball in good reverse-swing condition can be as dangerous as a new ball, in different ways.

The "new ball rule" refers to the playing condition that allows the fielding team to request a fresh ball after a certain number of overs have been bowled in an innings. The timing varies by format.

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New Ball in Test Cricket (After 80 Overs)

In Test cricket, the fielding side may request a new ball after 80 overs have been bowled in that innings. This is governed by Law 5.4 of the MCC Laws of Cricket ("New ball in match") and the ICC Test Match Playing Conditions.

Key details of the Test new ball rule:

• The 80-over mark is counted from the start of the innings, regardless of any interruptions for rain, bad light, or other delays. The count is by overs actually bowled.
• The new ball is optional, not mandatory. The fielding captain can choose to delay taking the new ball even after 80 overs have been bowled. There is no upper limit on how long the fielding side can wait — if a captain wants to bowl the 140th over with the same ball, they are entitled to do so.
• Once taken, the new ball replaces the old ball. The old ball is not returned to play.
• Multiple new balls in an innings: After the first new ball after 80 overs, a second new ball becomes available after another 80 overs — i.e., at 160 overs. And so on for hypothetically very long innings.
• Both bowling teams use a new ball: Each team gets a fresh ball at the start of each innings they bowl. If Team A bats first and Team B bowls, Team B begins with a new ball. When Team A bowls in Team B's innings, Team A also begins with a fresh new ball — they do not inherit the old ball from Team B's bowling.

The 80-over rule has been the Test standard since 1980, when it was formally codified by the ICC. Before that, different countries used different over counts, and even balls of different weights, creating complexity in bilateral series.

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New Ball in ODIs

In One-Day International cricket, the new ball structure is quite different from Tests and reflects the specific format requirements.

Two new balls per innings: ODIs use two new balls per innings — one from each end. Both balls start the innings brand new. One is bowled from the pavilion end, one from the other end. Both balls are used simultaneously throughout the innings, alternating as ends change between overs.

The logic behind two new balls: using a single ball across a 50-over innings would result in a severely deteriorated ball in the last 20 overs, producing unplayable conditions for batting. Two balls keep both ends more consistent throughout the innings.

Ball change timing: In ODIs, the balls do not get replaced mid-innings the way they can in Tests. Both balls continue throughout the full 50 overs (or the team's full allocation) unless a ball is lost or becomes unfit through damage. There is no mid-innings new ball option.

The introduction of two new balls in ODIs was a significant rule change that altered the balance of the format. Reverse swing, which had been a feature of the last 20 overs of ODI cricket when a single old ball was used, became far less prevalent after two balls were introduced, as both balls stay relatively harder for longer.

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New Ball in T20 Cricket

In T20 cricket, the structure is the same as ODIs: two new balls per innings, one from each end, used simultaneously throughout the 20-over innings.

Given that a T20 innings is only 20 overs, there is no question of taking a new ball mid-innings — the balls are used for the entirety of both teams' innings. The focus in T20 cricket is on managing the two balls' conditions — bowlers and captains try to maintain one ball in better shape for swinging deliveries in the powerplay and in the death overs.

The two-ball rule in T20 cricket is universal across international T20Is and in the major franchise tournaments (IPL, Big Bash, The Hundred, etc.). All major competitions use two new balls per T20 innings.

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Why Do Teams Choose to Take (or Not Take) the New Ball?

The new ball decision in Test cricket is one of the most interesting strategic choices in the game. Here are the competing factors:

Arguments for taking the new ball immediately at 80 overs:

• A hard new ball swings more than an old ball in standard conditions
• A new ball bounces higher off the pitch, troubling batsmen who are set and comfortable against the old ball
• If the pitch is deteriorating, the new ball can exploit cracks and rough patches more effectively
• If the batting side has a new partnership that has not yet settled in, the pace and bounce of a new ball can be decisive

Arguments for delaying the new ball:

• Reverse swing: an old ball with significant wear on one side and polish on the other can swing at high pace in the exact opposite direction from conventional swing. Some fast bowlers — particularly Pakistan and England seam bowlers — consider reverse swing with an old ball more dangerous than conventional swing with a new ball
• Spinner advantage: if a team has a high-quality spin attack and the new ball will allow the batting side to attack before the spinners return, a captain may prefer to continue with the spinner-friendly old ball
• Pitch conditions: on a dry, turning pitch, an old ball that grips better can be more effective for spinners than a new, hard ball that skids through
• Match situation: if the batting side needs only 30 more runs to avoid the follow-on, a captain might delay the new ball to maintain reverse swing pressure rather than give the batsmen a fresh ball to hit

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The Old Ball — Reverse Swing Benefits

Reverse swing is one of the most challenging bowling weapons in cricket, and it requires an old, asymmetrically conditioned ball to work. The science:

A cricket ball can be made to swing in the air if one side is smoother and harder than the other. Bowlers deliberately shine one side of the ball (using their sweat) and allow the other side to roughen through contact with the pitch and outfield. This differential surface creates aerodynamic asymmetry that causes the ball to curve in flight.

In conventional swing, the ball moves toward the rough side — away from the polished side. In reverse swing, which occurs when the ball is old and the rough-smooth difference is extreme, the ball swings toward the polished (shiny) side instead — the opposite of normal.

Reverse swing at 85-90 mph with a ball 60-70 overs old was the signature weapon of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and the great Pakistani fast bowlers of the 1990s. England, through James Anderson and Stuart Broad, used it extensively in English conditions. Reverse swing at pace on a flat pitch can be almost unplayable for batsmen who cannot pick the direction of the swing until the ball is very close to them.

A captain considering taking the new ball at 80 overs must weigh whether the reverse swing being generated by the old ball exceeds the advantage of the new ball's conventional swing and extra bounce.

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Ball Condition and Umpire Checks

Throughout an innings, umpires regularly check the condition of the ball. Their responsibilities include:

Regular inspection: After most overs (though not necessarily every over), umpires can examine the ball for shape, lacquer condition, and seam integrity. They check that the ball has not been tampered with illegally.

Replacement for loss of shape: If a ball goes significantly out of shape during an innings — through unusual contact with a hard surface, for instance — the umpires can replace it with a ball in comparable condition to the original at the time of replacement. The umpires carry a selection of used balls to allow an appropriate match.

Replacement after a lost ball: If the ball is lost (goes into the crowd, becomes permanently stuck, etc.), the umpires again replace it with a comparable ball.

Ball tampering: Players may shine the ball using saliva or sweat (though saliva was banned for a period during COVID-19 protocols, replaced by sweat only). They may not apply artificial substances, scratch the surface with a fingernail, pick the seam, or use any other illegal methods to alter the ball's condition. Ball tampering discovered mid-match results in penalty runs and ball replacement.

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Famous New Ball Strategic Decisions

India vs Australia — Nagpur Test 2023 (Border-Gavaskar Trophy): India's use of their spinners even when the new ball was available highlighted the Nagpur pitch's exceptional turn from day one. Rather than take the new ball, India continued with Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin on a pitch that was already spinning sharply, denying Australia the comfort of seeing a fresh ball while the pitch deteriorated further.

Pakistan's reverse swing tradition: Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Pakistan's fielding captains — particularly Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis as captains — built entire team strategies around delaying the new ball to maximise reverse swing with the 50-60 over old ball. Their fielding plans, field placements, and bowling rotations were all structured around protecting the ball's condition to generate reverse swing at the optimal stage.

England's Bazball era (2022-onwards): England's aggressive Test approach under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum has involved taking the new ball early and using it to attack rather than defend, even when pitch conditions might favour spin. This reflects their philosophy of controlling the match tempo rather than reacting to conditions.

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Quick Reference Table

Format	New ball timing	Number of balls per innings
Test cricket	After 80 overs (optional)	1 at start, more available after 80 overs
ODIs	Start of innings	2 (one from each end)
T20Is	Start of innings	2 (one from each end)
IPL	Start of innings	2 (one from each end)
Test: can captain delay new ball?	Yes — no obligation to take at 80 overs	—
Test: second new ball available?	Yes — after 160 overs	—
Ball lost — replacement type?	Comparable condition ball	—
Ball tampering detection	Penalty runs + ball replaced	—

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can a batsman request the umpire to change the ball? No. The decision to take a new ball rests entirely with the fielding captain. Batsmen cannot request a ball change. However, both captains can request the umpires inspect the ball if they suspect tampering — this is a separate process from the new ball rule.

What happens to the old ball when the new ball is taken? The old ball is handed to the umpires and removed from play. It is retained by the match officials for the rest of the match as evidence in case any dispute arises about ball condition during the completed overs. The old ball is not used again in the same innings.

Can a fielding team use a new ball from the very first over? Yes — every innings begins with a new ball. The new ball rule specifies only the conditions for requesting a second (or subsequent) new ball mid-innings. The first ball of every innings is always new.

Is the new ball rule the same in women's cricket? The ICC applies the new ball rules equally across men's and women's international cricket. Women's Test cricket (when played) uses the 80-over new ball rule. Women's ODIs also use two new balls per innings in the same way as the men's game.

Does the weight of the ball change between new and old ball? No — a cricket ball must conform to the specified weight range (155.9 to 163 grams for a men's match ball under ICC regulations) throughout its use. The ball becomes lighter as it wears through an innings, but not significantly. The weight difference between a new and old ball is minimal and not a factor in the new ball decision.

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The new ball rule is one of cricket's most elegant strategic elements — a decision point that rewards tactical thinking, knowledge of conditions, and an honest assessment of which weapon in the bowling arsenal gives the fielding side the best chance of taking wickets. From the Nagpur dust bowls where India's spinners need no new ball assistance, to the Headingley swing where a new ball in English cloud conditions is the most dangerous object in sport, the 80-over mark has generated some of cricket's most memorable strategic moments.

For more in the series, visit /category/cricket-rules.

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Sources:

• MCC Laws of Cricket — Law 5 (The Ball)
• ICC Playing Conditions — New Ball Regulations
• ESPNcricinfo — New Ball Records and Strategy