When Do You Get a New Ball in Cricket

The new ball is one of cricket’s most significant tactical elements. Understanding when teams receive fresh balls in different formats explains much about bowling strategies and match dynamics.

New Ball Rules by Format

Format	New Ball Available	Key Detail
Test cricket	After 80 overs	Fielding captain’s choice — can delay
ODI cricket	Two new balls for overs 1–34, then one ball	Rule changed June 2025
T20I cricket	One new ball	Single ball for the 20-over innings

Test Cricket: The 80-Over Rule

In Tests, a new ball becomes available after 80 overs of the old one. Captains can take it immediately or delay, depending on conditions and bowling resources. Under the Laws of Cricket (Law 5.4), the fielding captain has the choice of taking a new ball any time after 80 overs have been bowled — it is an option, not an automatic change.

The new ball swings and seams more, making it prized. Fast bowlers queue up for the fresh cherry, and its arrival often triggers wickets. Delaying is sometimes wise if spinners are dominating or the ball is reverse-swinging.

A famous example came in the 2021 Chennai Test between India and England. England batted for 190.1 overs in their first innings, and India captain Virat Kohli deliberately delayed the second new ball well past the 160-over mark because his fast bowlers were getting the old ball to reverse swing in the third session of day two. It was a calculated gamble on reverse swing over the fresh seam of a new ball — exactly the kind of tactical contest the 80-over rule creates.

There is also a lesser-known provision: if the ball is lost or becomes unfit for play after 110 overs, the umpires replace it with a brand new ball rather than one of similar wear.

ODI Cricket: The Big 2025 Rule Change

Since October 2011, ODIs used two new balls, one from each end, for the entire innings. This meant the ball was never older than 25 overs, which largely killed reverse swing and favoured batters — a change traditionalists always resented.

That has now changed. From June 2025, under revised ICC playing conditions, two new balls are used for only the first 34 overs of an ODI innings. After that, the fielding team chooses one of the two balls to continue with for the remaining 16 overs. The change, recommended by the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee headed by Sourav Ganguly, was designed to bring reverse swing back into the death overs and redress the balance between bat and ball.

The practical effect is significant: with a single 34-over-old ball in the last 16 overs, skilled fast bowlers can once again work up reverse swing at the death — something the two-ball era had virtually eliminated. Captains must now also make a real choice about which of the two balls to keep, adding a fresh tactical layer to ODI cricket.

T20 Cricket

T20Is use one new ball for the 20-over innings. With only 120 balls, the ball stays relatively hard throughout, though it softens enough to affect strokeplay late on.

In domestic T20 leagues the same single-ball rule applies. The short innings means reverse swing is rare, but the hardness of the ball through the middle overs keeps stroke-makers honest — mishits off a hard ball still carry to fielders.

Why the New Ball Swings More

A new ball swings because of its pronounced seam and shiny lacquered surface. One side stays polished while the other roughens, and the raised seam disturbs airflow asymmetrically, pushing the ball sideways. As the ball ages, the seam flattens and the shine fades, reducing conventional swing — which is why the first 10 to 15 overs with a new ball are the most dangerous passage for batters in any format.

Bowlers also shine one side deliberately (legally, without artificial substances) to maximise this effect. The contrast between the two sides is what makes the ball talk.

Strategic Implications

New ball decisions shape matches. Taking it immediately with fresh quicks can break partnerships; delaying can preserve reverse swing. Captains weigh pitch, overhead conditions and bowler workloads.

Overhead conditions matter enormously. On a cloudy morning with moisture in the air, captains snatch the new ball at the earliest opportunity. On a flat, sunny afternoon with an old ball reversing, they may let it go 20 or 30 overs past the due mark — a delay that can look like genius or folly depending on the outcome.

Bowler workload is the other factor. Taking the new ball commits your best fast bowlers to a fresh spell. If they are tired from a long previous stint, a wise captain waits — a new ball in the hands of an exhausted bowler is wasted.

The 80-over rule creates one of Test cricket’s great tactical contests: the promise of a swinging new ball against the menace of a reversing old one.

The Ball Itself: Kookaburra, Dukes and SG

Not all new balls behave the same. The brand of ball used shapes how much it swings and for how long — a crucial variable in the new-ball contest.

Ball	Used In	New-Ball Behaviour
Kookaburra	Australia, most limited-overs cricket	Swings early but the seam flattens quickly; stops swinging sooner
Dukes	England Tests	Pronounced seam, swings longer; the most bowler-friendly new ball
SG	India Tests	Big seam initially but softens fast; spinners come into play earlier

The Dukes ball is famous for swinging for 30 overs or more in English conditions, which is why new-ball bowling in England is such a spectacle. The Kookaburra, by contrast, tends to stop swinging after the first dozen overs on flat Australian pitches, shifting the contest toward pace and bounce. The SG ball’s rapid softening is one reason spin dominates the later stages of Tests in India.

Captains factor all of this into new-ball decisions. A Dukes ball under cloud cover at Lord’s is taken instantly; a soft SG ball on a turning Chennai pitch might see the new ball delayed deep into the innings.

New Ball Rituals and Psychology

The new ball is as much psychological as physical. Opening batters speak of the first half-hour as a separate contest — survive it, and the innings opens up. Bowlers, meanwhile, charge in with extra energy, knowing these are their best overs.

Teams have rituals around it: the ball is shined on one side from the first over, senior bowlers claim it, and fields are set aggressively with slips and gullies packed. When the 80-over mark approaches in a Test, the whole rhythm of the game changes — batters eye the clock, bowlers eye the umpire’s bag, and the crowd senses the shift.

FAQs

When is the new ball due in Tests?

After 80 overs, the fielding captain can take a new ball immediately or delay the decision.

What is the ODI new ball rule from 2025?

Two new balls are used for the first 34 overs; then the fielding team picks one ball for the remaining 16 overs, bringing reverse swing back to the death overs.

Why two balls in ODIs originally?

Introduced in 2011 to maintain ball hardness, though it reduced reverse swing and favoured batting — which is why the 2025 change partially reversed it.

Can you delay the new ball?

Yes. Captains often delay if the old ball is reverse-swinging or spinners are on top.

Does the new ball swing more?

Yes. The pronounced seam and shiny surface produce greater conventional swing and seam movement.

What is reverse swing?

With an old, rough ball, skilled bowlers can make it swing opposite to conventional direction, a lethal weapon — now back in ODI death overs thanks to the 2025 rule change.