Since 1 October 2026, when a wicket falls in the last over of a day in a multi-day match, play does not stop there: the over is completed, and the new batter faces the remaining balls that evening. This is one of 73 material changes in the fourth edition of the 2017 Code of the Laws of Cricket, issued by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
What the rule says
In multi-day cricket, including Test matches, each day has a scheduled close of play. If a batter is dismissed when the day’s final over has balls still to come, the over is now bowled to its end, assuming conditions remain fit for play. The incoming batter walks out and faces the rest of the over straight away.
What happened before
Under the earlier edition, a wicket late in the final over could bring the day to a close with part of the over unbowled. The remaining balls were then carried into the next morning, so the new batter often did not have to face them until the following day. The incoming batter was therefore often let off the hook, and the change removes that escape.
A worked example
Suppose a team is 180 for 3 and the last over of the day has been scheduled to start. The bowler removes the batter on the third ball. Previously, the day could end with three balls unbowled, and the new batter would start fresh the next morning. Under the 2026 edition, the new batter comes in at once and faces the remaining three balls. If conditions are still fit for play, those three balls are bowled before the umpires take the players off.
What it does not change
- It applies to multi-day cricket. Limited-overs matches already have a set number of overs and are not affected.
- It does not extend play when bad light, rain or another interruption makes play unfit; the condition that play can continue still applies.
- It does not by itself save any time: the balls still have to be bowled, only on the same evening rather than the next morning.
Why it matters
The change removes a small tactical wrinkle. A bowler who dismisses a batter near the end of the day now gets the chance to attack the new arrival immediately, and a captain can no longer hope that a wicket in the last over will shield a vulnerable batter overnight. For spectators, the end of each day becomes more consistent: the over scheduled is the over played.
Some of the 2026 changes had already been adopted as playing conditions by the ICC and other governing bodies before the new edition took effect, and national boards can add their own conditions for domestic competitions.
Frequently asked questions
What changed about the last over of the day?
Since 1 October 2026, if a wicket falls in the final over of a day in multi-day cricket, the over is completed that evening instead of the remaining balls being left to the next morning.
Does it apply to T20 and one-day matches?
No. It concerns the close of play in multi-day matches such as Tests and first-class games.
What if the light is bad or it rains?
The over is completed only if conditions remain fit for play. Weather and light interruptions still stop play as before.