
The “quiet signal” given by referees on the field when referring a hold will be abolished this summer.
Referees currently give an initial decision, usually when judging whether the ball has been carried to a defender, before the third referee makes a final call from televised replays.
The process is often criticized and now referees simply consult the television referee before making a decision.
The change will come for England’s test against Ireland on June 1.
This will also continue for the World Test Championship final between India and Australia a week later and the Ashes men’s and women’s series to follow.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has also introduced a new law requiring players to wear helmets in “high risk positions”.
Batters will need to wear helmets when facing fast bowling, wicket keepers will need to do so when getting up against the stumps, as will fielders near the bat in front of the wicket.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) ruled in 2015 that helmets would be compulsory for all male and female batters against all bowlers in professional cricket matches regulated by the ECB.
The ECB regulations, which also applied to English teams playing overseas and were strongly recommended for all recreational cricketers, also applied to standing wicket-keepers and most field players unless eight meters – except for slips behind the wicket on the opposite side.
In another ICC change, any runs scored on a free kick when the ball hits the stumps will now be given as runs rather than byes.