The Marylebone Cricket Membership (MCC), in collaboration with the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC), has introduced a landmark change to cricket’s legal guidelines, concentrating on the controversial “bunny-hop” boundary catch. This new rule, which can take impact in ICC taking part in situations from June 17, 2025, and be formally written into the MCC’s Legal guidelines in October 2026, goals to make clear what constitutes a good catch close to the boundary and deal with issues concerning the spirit and equity of current spectacular, however contentious, fielding efforts.
MCC makes the catch unlawful with a serious modification
The “bunny-hop” catch—immortalized by Michael Neser within the Large Bash League 2023 and others—has been a supply of each awe and debate. In these situations, fielders would leap to intercept a ball close to the boundary, toss it within the air whereas airborne exterior the ropes, land exterior, after which leap once more to push the ball again in or full the catch, typically with a number of airborne touches. Although authorized beneath the outdated regulation, these catches left many followers and gamers questioning their equity, as fielders might manipulate the legal guidelines to keep away from conceding sixes in ways in which appeared to defy the spirit of the sport.
Underneath the brand new rule, such multi-touch, airborne manoeuvres from exterior the boundary will likely be deemed unlawful. Now, if a fielder jumps from exterior the boundary and touches the ball, they have to land fully inside the subject of play for the catch to depend. If the fielder lands exterior after touching the ball, or makes any subsequent contact with the bottom exterior the ropes throughout that supply, a boundary will likely be awarded. The MCC’s observe to member boards defined that this alteration was crucial as a result of the earlier regulation led to “some unusual-looking catches that, to the vast majority of the cricketing public, really feel unfair”. The brand new modification will come into impact on June 17.
Outrageous catch from Michael Neser 😱
Permit Glenn Maxwell to elucidate why it is a legit catch #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/7YORTIUFat
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 1, 2023
Additionally READ: From MS Dhoni to Sachin Tendulkar: Full listing of Indian cricketers in ICC Corridor of Fame
What’s nonetheless allowed? The artwork of the spectacular saves
Importantly, not all acrobatic boundary catches are banned. The brand new regulation nonetheless permits fielders to push the ball up from contained in the boundary, step out as a result of momentum, after which dive or leap again in to finish the catch—offered their first contact with the ball was made whereas grounded inside the sector of play. This distinction preserves the joy of athletic fielding whereas drawing a transparent line in opposition to the “bunny-hop” method that relied on repeated airborne touches from past the boundary.
The regulation’s exact wording now states {that a} fielder who’s airborne and makes contact with the ball after leaping from exterior the boundary should then land and stay inside the sector of play till the ball turns into useless. Any subsequent contact with the bottom exterior the boundary throughout that supply—whether or not or not the fielder is involved with the ball—ends in a boundary, not a wicket.
Additionally READ: Grace Hayden comes up with a heartfelt message for her legendary dad – ICC Corridor of Fame 2025