Third umpires to start calling no-balls in ODIS

The third umpire will take over the calling of all front-foot no-balls for limited-overs internationals, beginning with England’s first one-day international with Ireland on Thursday.

For all matches in the new Cricket World Cup Super League for ODI cricket, which features the top 13 countries in the world and launches with the England v Ireland series, responsibility for calling front-foot no-balls will fall to the TV umpires.

Successful trials, in some men’s ODIS and in this year’s Women’s T20 World Cup, have led the International Cricket Council to adopt the change for all matches in the new competition. It will also be used in the Twenty20 World Cup.

“It is something that will be used on Thursday and for the series to be played,” said Geoff Allardice, the ICC’S head of cricket operations.

“Certainly, there is the importance of the free hit in white-ball cricket, getting the no-balls called accurately. That is considered to be an important feature. The cricket committee has recommended that and it’s in the playing conditions for the World Cup Super League.”

The World Cup Super League will initially allow teams two challenges per innings – rather than one – because umpires from the home team are officiating. The new competition will also include points deductions for slow over rates.

The top eight teams in the World Cup Super League will qualify automatically for the 2023 World Cup, with the remainder entering a final qualifying tournament.

If the trial is successful, it will lead to strong consideration being given to introducing it in Test cricket, too.