The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has introduced major changes to the rules regarding regulation boundary catches. The revised updates will soon be implemented as part of the International Cricket Council(ICC) playing conditions.
MCC Revises ‘Bunny Hop’ Rule with New Boundary Catch Regulations
The newly revised law states that a fielder can only make one contact with the ball beyond the boundary before returning to the field to complete the catch. Previously, fielders could juggle the ball multiple times outside the boundary provided they didn’t touch the ground.
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For example, catches by Dewald Brevis in the IPL 2025 and Michael Neser in the BBL 2025 fall into this category. MCC termed these catches as ‘Bunny Hop’. Now, this rule has been revised, and the new regulations will be implemented by October 2026.
"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," states the MCC note.
Adjustments in the Relay Catch Rule
In relay catches where a fielder throws the ball to a teammate before crossing the boundary, MCC has also updated the rules. Under the new rule, the initial fielder must remain inside the field when their teammate completes the catch. If not, it will be considered a boundary. The new adjustment ensures that both fielders are within play boundaries during such instances. Now, the ICC will adopt the new changes in its playing conditions this month, reflecting a shift towards stricter regulation on relay catching.
"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 happens, they must be inside," states the MCC note.
From the revised rule, MCC wants to highlight its commitment to maintaining fairness and clarity in cricket laws. By addressing these specific scenarios, they aim to ensure consistency across international and domestic leagues.
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