The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the implementation of a stop-clock trial aimed at expediting play, starting with the upcoming T20 series between West Indies and England. The trial will commence during the first game of the five-match T20 series on December 12 (Tuesday) in Barbados and is scheduled to run for six months until April 2024.

In this trial, a clock will be utilised to regulate the time taken between overs. The new rule mandates that the bowling team must be prepared to bowl the first ball of their subsequent over within 60 seconds of the previous over’s completion. If the fielding side fails to adhere to this rule for the third time in an inning (following two warnings), a five-run penalty will be imposed.