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In a major shake-up of cricket's fielding laws, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) have ruled that boundary catches involving "bunny hops" and multiple airborne contacts outside the rope will no longer be legal. The decision, which has already stirred debate across the cricketing world, aims to align the laws with the spirit of the game and public perception of fairness.
The revised law will be implemented in ICC playing conditions starting June 17, coinciding with the start of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle when Sri Lanka hosts Bangladesh in Galle. The official inclusion in MCC’s Law 19.5.2 will follow in October 2026.
From Iconic to Illegal: Neser & Banton Catches Prompt Rule Review
This overhaul comes in the wake of widely discussed catches like Michael Neser’s boundary-defying leap for Brisbane Heat in BBL 2023, and the 2020 relay effort by Tom Banton and Matt Renshaw. While technically legal at the time, such catches involved fielders hopping or flying outside the boundary line multiple times before completing the dismissal — actions that MCC now believes go against the “visual fairness” of the game.
According to an MCC note circulated by the ICC, “While the existing law led to some spectacular fielding, it also permitted unusual-looking dismissals that felt unfair to the wider public.” The revised rule intends to simplify the boundary catch scenario by placing stricter ground contact restrictions on fielders involved.
The New Rule Explained
Under the updated Law 19.5.2:
A fielder who jumps from outside the boundary may touch the ball once while airborne.
After this, all subsequent ground contact must be within the field of play.
If the fielder touches the ball and then lands outside, or steps out again during the delivery, a boundary will be awarded — regardless of whether the ball is caught or relayed to another player.
In relay catch situations, if a fielder parries the ball while airborne from beyond the boundary, they must land and stay inside the field until the ball becomes dead. Any breach of this will also result in four or six runs being awarded, depending on the ball's trajectory.
A ‘Hard Line’ Around the Boundary
The MCC summarised the new approach clearly: “Once a fielder who has gone outside the boundary makes contact with the ball, the boundary line becomes a hard line. Any further contact with the ground must be entirely within the boundary.”
The aim is to preserve the spectacle of athletic boundary catches while restoring logical consistency and ensuring fairness in dismissals.
Balancing Drama with Fairness
As cricket continues to evolve with technology, athleticism, and creativity, lawmakers are seeking to preserve the integrity of the sport. With boundary catches now redefined, fans can still enjoy stunning fielding moments — but with a clearer, fairer framework in place.
