LONDON, June 30: England and Australia have agreed to play next month’s three-match one-day series under new International Cricket Council (ICC) rules introducing substitutions and new fielding regulations.

The rules had been due to come into effect from the end of July.

David Collier, England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive, said:

“We are delighted that the host grounds, the players and our commercial partners have braced these new regulations. We are also delighted that Cricket Australia shares ECB’s views on this innovation.”

The ICC, hoping to make one-dayers more exciting, announced a 10-month trial earlier this month allowing teams to use one substitute during one-day internationals.

Fielding restrictions, currently active for the first 15 overs of an innings, will now be in place for the first 10 overs, followed by two more blocks of five overs later in the innings at the fielding captain’s discretion.

Michael Brown, general manager cricket operations at Cricket Australia, added: “Cricket Australia is committed to continually look at ways of making our game appeal to more people.

“We believe these changes will add a new dimension to one-day cricket which will be embraced by the players, cricket fans, and new-comers to the game.”

The one-day series begins on July 7 at Headingley, followed by games at Lord’s on July 10 and The Oval on July 12.—Reuters