Cricket's bias towards batsmen keeps growing with ICC [Images] giving its nod to a change in playing conditions which empowers a batsman to go for a free-hit without fearing a dismissal in the delivery following a front-foot no-ball.

The International Cricket Council on Friday okayed a number of changes to playing conditions at its annual meeting.

Accordingly, if a bowler bowls a front foot no-ball in an ODI, the following delivery will be deemed a free-hit and the batsman cannot be dismissed by the bowler from that delivery. The changes would come into effect from October 1, ICC said in a statement.

It has also decided that an additional fielder would be allowed outside the fielding circle during the second or third power play in ODIs.

In case a one-day innings is reduced, the number of overs making up each of the three power plays shall be reduced proportionately.

There will also be a mandatory change of ball after 35 overs of each innings in ODIs. The replacement will be a clean used ball.

ICC also decided that the minimum boundary sizes in all international matches will be increased with the square boundary measuring at least 150 yards from one side of the ground to the other.