Boundary catches involving ‘bunny hops’, or a number of airborne touches exterior the rope, have been deemed unlawful by the Marylebone Cricket Club, with the new ruling set to be built-in into ICC’s enjoying circumstances this month and the MCC’s legal guidelines from October subsequent yr.
Spectacular catches like those pulled off by Michael Neser throughout BBL 2023 and Tom Banton, with Matt Renshaw’s assist in 2020, is not going to be thought-about authorized as soon as the up to date rule comes into pressure.
According to an MCC be aware circulated to member boards by the ICC, whereas the present regulation “led to some spectacular” fielding efforts, it additionally allowed “some unusual-looking catches that, to the majority of the cricketing public, feel unfair”.
Describing Neser’s catch for Brisbane Heat to dismiss Jordan Silk, the MCC mentioned the fielder “bunny hopped” earlier than finishing the catch contained in the boundary. While the act complied with the regulation on the time, the be aware added it “felt like the fielder had – quite literally – gone too far”.
Both situations triggered widespread debate, prompting the ICC and MCC to assessment Law 19.5.2, which was final up to date in 2010.
As a part of its revision, the MCC clarified that any fielder making a second contact with the ball after leaping from past the boundary should land inside the sphere of play, or else a boundary can be awarded.
“MCC has devised a new wording where the ‘bunny hop’ wholly beyond the boundary is removed, but these catches where the fielder pushes the ball up from inside the boundary, steps outside and then dives back in to catch the ball, are permitted,” the be aware mentioned.
“Our solution has been to limit any fielder who has gone outside the boundary to touching the ball while airborne only once, and then, having done so, to be wholly grounded within the boundary for the rest of the duration of that delivery.”
The rule may also apply to relay catches. If a fielder parries the ball whereas airborne exterior the boundary and fails to return inside the sphere earlier than the catch is accomplished — even by a teammate — it will likely be dominated a boundary.
“Even if the ball is parried – to another fielder or inside the field of play – if the fielder lands outside the boundary, or subsequently steps outside, then a boundary will be scored.
“For readability, meaning the fielder will get one probability, and one probability solely, to contact the ball having jumped from exterior the boundary. After that time, the boundary turns into a tough line – and any time they contact the bottom in that supply, no matter else occurs, they should be inside.”
The revised rule will be enforced starting on June 17, when the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle begins with Sri Lanka taking on Bangladesh in Galle. The change in the laws will officially take effect from October 2026.
Published – June 14, 2025 10:33 am IST
