MCC bans 'bunny hop' catches in major boundary rule change; ICC set to integrate

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced a major change to the laws regarding boundary-line catches. As per ESPNcricinfo, a new rule, set to be integrated into the ICC’s playing conditions in October 2026, will prohibit the 'bunny-hop' catches where fielders jump from beyond the boundary.

As per the earlier law, fielders were allowed to make contact with the ball multiple times while outside the boundary, as long as they remained airborne. This provision sparked debate during a 2023 Big Bash League (BBL) match when Michael Neser pulled off a remarkable catch that raised eyebrows.

Neser, positioned near the wide long-off boundary, caught the ball but overbalanced towards the rope. He tossed the ball into the air while still airborne, landed beyond the field, jumped again to tap it back mid-air, and then re-entered the field to complete the catch. Jordan Silk was declared out.

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Michael Neser's juggling act ends Silk's stay!

Cue the debate about the Laws of Cricket... #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/5Vco84erpj

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 1, 2023

MCC Makes Major Change to Boundary Catch Law

The Marylebone Cricket Club addressed growing concerns over boundary catches that many fans view as unfair. As per the new regulation, a catch is only considered valid if fielders make contact with the ball just once while beyond the boundary.

"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," states the MCC note.

"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."

ICC to Adopt New Boundary Catch Rule This Month

The updated boundary catch rule will be integrated into the ICC’s playing conditions this month. Catches similar to those taken by Michael Neser during the 2023 Big Bash League will be considered illegal under the revised law.

The MCC further clarifies: "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 clarity, that means the fielder gets one chance, and one chance only, to touch the ball having jumped from outside the boundary. After that point, the boundary becomes a hard line – and any time they touch the ground in that delivery, whatever else happens, they must be inside."

MCC Introduces New Rule for Relay Catches to Ensure Fair Play

In recent years, boundary-line fielding has featured spectacular individual efforts and a growing trend of relay catches, especially in T20 cricket. These plays involve a fielder catching the ball near the boundary and quickly passing it to a teammate before crossing the rope.

Michael Neser’s controversial catch in BBL 2023 wasn’t a one-off. He later credited teammate Matt Renshaw for the inspiration, pointing to a similar incident from the 2020 Big Bash League.

Renshaw ran to his left towards wide long-on and took the catch just inside the rope. As he lost balance and began to cross the boundary, he quickly tossed the ball into the air. He then made another mid-air leap to knock it back into play. Tom Banton completed the catch inside the field.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the revised MCC law will also impact the execution of relay catches. Under the new regulation, if a fielder touches the ball while outside the boundary and must re-enter the field of play before the catch is completed, even if the teammate completes the catch.

Also read: Babar Azam signs with new team after PCB ends his T20I career