ICC recommends axing ODI batting powerplay

Cricket's world governing body has recommended axing the batting powerplay and changes to fielding rules for one-day internationals in a bid to tame the dominance of batsmen.

The International Cricket Council's (ICC) cricket committee, headed by former India leg-spinner Anil Kumble, recommended a string of changes in order to restore the balance between bat and ball since batsmen were seen to be increasingly dominating the game.

It announced on Monday it wants to:

• Remove the batting powerplay
• Allow five fielders outside the 30-yard circle between the 41st and 50th overs
• Remove the requirement to have two fielders in catching positions in the first 10 overs
• Introduce free-hits for all no balls in ODIs and Twenty20 games instead of only for front-foot calls.

"This means that for the first 10 overs there will be two fielders outside the circle, for the next 30 overs there will be four fielders out and for the last 10 overs there will be five outside the circle," the ICC said in its statement.

"The committee was very encouraged by some of the attacking captaincy displayed during the World Cup [this year in Australia and New Zealand] and believes these changes will allow fielding captains greater freedom to both attack and defend when required."

The recommendations from the committee, which met in Mumbai on Friday and Saturday, need to be ratified by the chief executives' committee (CEC) that will meet in Barbados during the ICC's annual conference from June 22 to 26.

On player behaviour, the committee felt that match referees should apply suspensions rather than fines for repeat offenders and for serious offences like physical contact.

The committee was satisfied with member countries dealing with "suspect actions", ensuring they are dealt with effectively before reaching the international level.

On the topic of the balance between bat and ball, the committee discussed the size of bats, the boundaries and the durability of the white ball and concluded that although the ICC will not introduce any regulations on the bat size, it will provide inputs for the consultation process ahead of the MCC's redrafting of laws in 2017.

Reviewing the reports from the first-class matches played with pink balls, the committee asked Test-playing nations to identify opportunities and make provisions for play to extend later into the day.

The idea of four-day Tests, however, was rejected.