The International Cricket Council (ICC) has recently introduced numerous changes to the cricket rulebook, which are bound to change the future of the gentleman's game.
Among them, one rule that stands out is the change in the number of overs of powerplay in case of shortening of a T20 match.
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On Thursday, July 26, the ICC clearly defined a set of overs allowed, along with a restricted field in case of a T20 match, seeing a reduction in the number of overs.
In this article, The Sporting News takes a look at the new rule to be applied in T20s globally.
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Shortened T20 match: How are Powerplay overs calculated?
According to the new rule laid out by the ICC, the duration of the powerplay will be reduced and rounded to the nearest ball rather than the nearest over in case a T20I match sees a reduction in the number of overs.
Earlier, the first six overs of a T20I match were considered to be 'powerplay' overs, which constituted almost thirty percent of the total game. Rounding it to the nearest over made a huge difference, which seemed to provide an added advantage to the batting side.
Let's take a look at the table below.
| No. of overs after reduction | Powerplay overs |
| 5 | 1.3 |
| 6 | 1.5 |
| 7 | 2.1 |
| 8 | 2.2 |
| 9 | 2.4 |
| 10 | 3 |
| 11 | 3.2 |
| 12 | 3.4 |
| 13 | 3.5 |
| 14 | 4.1 |
| 15 | 4.3 |
| 16 | 4.5 |
| 17 | 5.1 |
| 18 | 5.2 |
| 19 | 5.4 |
The powerplay overs will be reduced in accordance with the table provided above. The change will be applied in both innings of the game.
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Only two fielders will be allowed to be outside the 30-yard circle till the prescribed over of the powerplay. For example, in an 8-over match, after the two balls have been bowled in the second over, the umpire will make a signal that will allow the rest of the three fielders to drop back from within the circle.
"This table has been used in the T20 Blast in England for many years, where ending a powerplay midway through an over has caused no difficulty for players or officials. It has now been accepted by the ICC Men's Cricket Committee as the preferred method moving forward, " the ICC said in an official release.