Daijiworld Media Network - London

London, Jun 14: The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has ruled out the legality of boundary catches involving ‘bunny hops’ or multiple airborne touches beyond the rope, with the new law set to come into effect in ICC playing conditions from June 17 and in MCC’s Laws from October 2026.

Spectacular fielding efforts like Michael Neser’s dramatic boundary catch in the BBL 2023 and Tom Banton’s 2020 effort with Matt Renshaw’s help, will no longer be valid once the revised rule kicks in.

According to a note shared by the ICC to member boards, the existing law, though technically correct, allowed “unusual-looking catches” which many fans found unfair. MCC noted that while Neser's catch was legal under current laws, it appeared that the fielder had “gone too far” in spirit.

The revised Law 19.5.2 now mandates that a fielder jumping from outside the boundary can only touch the ball once while airborne. For the catch to be valid, the fielder must land completely inside the boundary thereafter. Any additional touches while airborne beyond the boundary will result in a boundary being awarded.

Relay catches are also impacted. If the initial fielder, after jumping from outside the rope, parries the ball but fails to re-enter the field before another teammate completes the catch, it will be deemed a boundary.

The updated rule will come into force with the new ICC World Test Championship cycle, starting with the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Test in Galle on June 17.