This summer, the’soft signal’ used by on-field umpires when referring a catch will be phased out.

Currently, umpires make an initial decision, usually when determining whether the ball has carried to a fielder, before the third umpire makes a final decision based on television replays.

The approach has been heavily criticized, and now umpires will just speak with the TV umpire before making any decisions.

The alteration will take effect for England’s first Test against Ireland on June 1.

It will also be repeated for the World Test Championship final between India and Australia a week later, as well as the men’s and women’s Ashes series that follows.

Sciver-Brunt is back in a ‘nice place’ and ready for the Ashes.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has recently adopted a new law requiring players in “high risk positions” to wear helmets.

Batters will be required to wear helmets while facing quick bowling, as will wicketkeepers when standing up to the stumps and fielders close to the bat in front of the wicket.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) ruled in 2015 that all male and female hitters against all bowlers in ECB-governed professional cricket matches would be required to wear helmets.

The ECB regulations, which also applied to England teams playing abroad and were strongly advised for all recreational players, also applied to wicketkeepers standing up and most fielders closer than eight yards – with the exception of slips behind the wicket on the off side.

Another ICC rule change is that any runs scored via a free hit when the ball hits the stumps will henceforth be recorded as runs rather than byes.