No more bunny hop boundary catches: Cricket's new rule change explained

India Today

a day ago

A major tweak to cricket's boundary fielding rule has been announced by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of the laws of the game. The MCC has amended Law 19.5.2, tightening what is considered a legal airborne fielding effort near the boundary. The rule will come into effect for international cricket from June 17, 2025 and be officially incorporated into the MCC's Laws from October 2026.advertisementThe aim is to end confusion and limit catches involving multiple airborne touches or "bunny hops" outside the boundary, which fans and players increasingly viewed as unfair—even if technically legal.Notable examples include Michael Neser's multi-hop catch in BBL 2023 and a 2020 relay catch involving Tom Banton and Matt Renshaw. While fans were in awe of the sensational efforts on both instances, questions were asked about the fairness of such efforts. Quite a few even suggested a rule change.
Here's an explainer of the rule change which will deem "bunny hops" illegal when catching along the boundary.THE BUNNY HOP CATCH THAT WAS DEEMED LEGALMichael 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, 2023The earlier version of Law 19.5.2 stated: "A fielder who is not in contact with the ground is considered to be grounded beyond the boundary if his/her final contact with the ground, before his/her first contact with the ball, was not entirely within the boundary."advertisementThe rule allowed:Multiple airborne touches of the ball by a fielder who initially jumped from within the field.Relay catches where teammates could be outside the boundary mid-air, as long as initial conditions were met.How the new rule for boundary catches will workThe updated Law 19.5.2 brings major changes to how catches near the boundary are judged, particularly those involving airborne fielders or relay efforts.Here's a detailed breakdown of the changes and how they'll impact play.What's changed in the main law (19.5.2)Previously, this rule only applied to the first fielder touching the ball. Under the new version, it applies to every fielder involved in the play — whether or not the ball has already been touched.That means in a multi-fielder relay catch, all fielders must meet the same grounding conditions before they touch the ball.Sub-Clause 19.5.2.1 – One Airborne Touch from OutsideA fielder is still allowed to jump from outside the boundary and touch the ball once while airborne.However, after that first touch, every time they contact the ground, they must do so within the field of play.If they land or step outside the boundary during the rest of that play — even after completing the catch or throw — it will count as a boundary.In effect: the fielder gets one chance to touch the ball from beyond the rope. From that point forward, they must be fully inside the field until the ball becomes dead.advertisementSub-Clause 19.5.2.2 – Returning the Ball in Relay CatchesIf a fielder jumps from outside the boundary and returns the ball into the field — either by throwing it to another fielder or tapping it back in — they must land inside the field and remain there until the play is over.If they step outside the boundary again during the same delivery, it's ruled a boundary, regardless of the ball's final outcome.IN MCC'S WORDS: "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," a note said."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."advertisement"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."Must Watch