In a significant move to refine the rules of cricket, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the guardian of the sport's laws, has announced changes to the boundary catch regulations, effectively outlawing "bunny hops." This update aims to address concerns over the fairness of certain boundary catches that have sparked debate in recent years. The updated law will be integrated into the ICC's playing conditions later this month and into the MCC's laws in October 2026.
The controversial "bunny hop" technique involves a fielder, positioned near the boundary, jumping from outside the boundary to make first contact with the ball while airborne, and then making multiple airborne touches before landing inside the field of play to complete the catch. While technically legal under the previous Law 19.5.2, such catches, exemplified by Michael Neser's effort in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023, have been widely perceived as bending the spirit of the game. Neser's catch, where he caught the ball with both hands, but his momentum took him over the ropes. He tossed the ball up, initially while airborne, landing outside the ropes, and then jumped again, palming the ball back into the fielder with both feet in the air, causing the batter to be ruled out.
The MCC's new rule seeks to prevent fielders from manipulating the ball back into the field of play after making contact with it from beyond the boundary. According to the updated Law 19.5.2, a fielder who jumps from outside the boundary to make first contact with the ball while airborne is permitted. However, after that initial touch, every subsequent contact with the ground must be within the field of play. Failure to re-enter the field and become fully grounded before further contact will result in the ball being declared a boundary.
"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," the MCC stated. This adjustment ensures that once a fielder has jumped from outside the boundary and touched the ball, they must return completely inside the field of play to complete any further part of the dismissal.
This change will also affect relay catches. If the first fielder launches from outside the field and parries the ball to a teammate, the dismissal will be disallowed unless the initial fielder lands entirely within the boundary before the next contact.
The MCC believes that this revised law strikes a balance between maintaining the potential for spectacular fielding efforts and ensuring fairness in the game. While some argue that the change may eliminate some exciting plays, such as catches made by Harleen Deol against England in 2021 and Alex Hales in BBL 2020, the majority of the cricketing community seems to welcome the move as a necessary step to clarify the rules and prevent what many consider to be unfair plays.
The updated law will take effect in international cricket on June 17, 2025, coinciding with the start of the new World Test Championship cycle. It will be officially incorporated into the MCC's Laws of Cricket from October 2026. With this adjustment, the MCC aims to provide clear guidelines for players and officials and uphold the integrity of the sport.
