The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made a notable change in playing conditions, which will prevent a fielding team from misusing a stumping review loophole.

Appeals for stumpings when referred by the on-field umpires henceforth will only assess the side-on replays for the said dismissal without considering the caught-behind scenario. The rule change has already come into effect from December 12, 2023.

Teams often use stumping review to check for the possibility of caught-behind dismissals without having to burn their limited DRS appeals.

During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India last year, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey widely used review for caught-behind after a stumping without exhausting the team’s DRS option.

"The change confines a stumping review to only check for stumped, therefore preventing the fielding team a free review for other modes of dismissal (i.e, caught behind) without choosing a player review," read ICC’s new amendment.

The ICC has also brought in more clarity regarding the concussion substitute rule. Now, the substitute player will not be allowed to bowl if the replaced player was suspended from bowling at the time of the concussion.

The apex body also has limited to four minutes the time set for on-field injury assessment and treatment.

(With PTI Inputs)