The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has amended cricket’s Laws to make “bunny hop” boundary catches—where a fielder repeatedly jumps from beyond the boundary to keep the ball in play—illegal. This change closes a loophole that allowed fielders to complete catches with multiple airborne touches outside the boundary, a practice that had sparked debate about fairness in recent years.
Key Points of the Rule Change:
Single Airborne Touch Allowed: Under the new Law 19.5.2, a fielder who is airborne beyond the boundary can only touch the ball once before returning to the field of play. After this first touch, the fielder must re-enter the field and be grounded inside the boundary to complete the catch. Any second touch while still airborne outside the boundary will result in a boundary being awarded to the batting side.
Relay Catches Updated: The rule also applies to relay catches. If a fielder parries the ball to a teammate, the initial fielder must be back inside the field before the catch is completed. If not, it will be counted as a boundary.
Implementation Timeline: The new law will be enforced in international cricket from June 17, 2025 (coinciding with the new World Test Championship cycle), and will be formally included in the MCC’s Laws from October 2026.
Background and Examples:
- The rule change was prompted by high-profile incidents, such as Michael Neser’s multi-hop catch in the 2023 Big Bash League, which, while legal under the old rules, was widely viewed as unfair.
- Similar catches by players like Tom Banton and Matt Renshaw also contributed to calls for clarification and reform.
Effect:
This amendment is designed to remove ambiguity, restore fairness, and prevent fielders from exploiting acrobatics beyond the boundary for multiple attempts at a catch. Once the fielder has made an airborne touch outside the boundary, they must return and remain inside the field for the remainder of the play, or the batting side will be awarded a boundary.
