England twice missed the opportunity to pile further pressure on New Zealand at the close of play in the ongoing Test series because of a long-standing law that is set to change later this year.
When will the new laws come into effect?
The MCC, custodians of the Laws of Cricket, have announced 10 significant law changes that will come into effect from October 2026. Among them is a tweak to how the final over of a day's play in a Test is played out. Under the revised law, a wicket falling during the last over will no longer automatically bring play to an end. Instead, the over will be completed, provided conditions remain suitable for play.
Although the amendment was approved in February, it will only come into effect from October 2026. As a result, England were still subject to the existing law during the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, twice missing the chance to bowl the remaining deliveries of the day's final over after taking a wicket.
On the opening day of the Lord's Test, New Zealand were 36-2 when nightwatcher Will O'Rourke was dismissed off the fifth ball of the 12th over. Because the wicket fell in what was scheduled to be the final over of the day, play ended immediately with one delivery still left to bowl.
Had the new law already been in place, Rachin Ravindra would have been required to come out and face the final ball of the over from Gus Atkinson. England could, in theory, have reduced New Zealand to 36-4 with another wicket before stumps, rather than the visitors finishing on 36-3 overnight.
A similar situation unfolded on the opening day of the third Test. New Zealand had collapsed from 317-0 to 361-4 when Henry Nicholls was dismissed off the first ball of the 85th over. Since it was the day's final scheduled over, play was immediately called off.
That meant England were unable to use the remaining five deliveries of Jofra Archer's over against a fresh batter late in the evening, traditionally regarded as one of the most challenging times to bat. Those deliveries instead became the first five balls bowled on the second morning. New Zealand resumed on 361-4 and were 396-6 after 97 overs at the time of writing.
What is changing?
Explaining the amendment, the MCC said ending a day's play immediately after a wicket "takes the drama out of the game, while letting the incoming batter off the hook – at a time when the conditions are often more favourable to bowling."
From October 2026, therefore, the final over of the day in all multi-day cricket will always be completed, even if a wicket falls, provided the umpires believe conditions remain conducive to play.
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