The stop clock: 60 seconds between overs

International cricket now uses a stop clock to keep the game moving. When an over ends, a clock on the big screen counts down from 60 seconds, and the fielding side must be ready to bowl the first ball of the next over before it reaches zero.

How the penalty works

• The first two times a fielding team is late in an innings, the umpires give a warning.
• From the third time onwards, the batting side is awarded 5 penalty runs each time.
• In Test matches the warnings are reset after 80 overs of an innings.

When the clock does not run

The umpires can switch the clock off for things outside the fielders' control, for example a new batter walking in, a drinks break, an injury, or a DRS review in progress.

Where it applies

It became a permanent part of men's ODI and T20I cricket in 2024, and was brought into Test cricket from the World Test Championship cycle that began in June 2025.

Club tip: even without a clock, getting into position quickly between overs helps us bowl our overs on time in league games.