Bunny Hop Catches Banned in Cricket ICC as Introduces New Fielding Rule

A big shake-up is coming to the way fielders are judged near the boundary in cricket. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the keepers of the game’s laws, have announced a key change to Law 19.5.2 — and it’s going to make those jaw-dropping, multi-touch relay catches a lot trickier to pull off.

This rule tweak is aimed squarely at clarifying what’s legal when it comes to airborne fielding near the boundary. The new version of the law kicks in for international matches starting June 17, 2025, and will be fully baked into the official MCC Laws in October 2026. 

So, what has changed? 

Let’s rewind a bit. You might remember some standout moments like Michael Neser’s unbelievable juggling catch in the Big Bash League in 2023, or that clever 2020 relay effort involving Tom Banton and Matt Renshaw. While those plays were lauded for their athleticism, plenty of fans (and even some players) questioned whether they were really in the spirit of the game. Turns out, the MCC agreed — at least to an extent. 

Back then, Law 19.5.2 said a fielder who was airborne was considered to be outside the boundary only if their last contact with the ground before touching the ball wasn’t fully within the field of play. Neser’s catch — where he hopped from inbounds, flicked the ball up mid-air while outside the rope, then jumped again and caught it clean — technically ticked all the boxes. But as the MCC later admitted, it felt like “the fielder had – quite literally – gone too far.” Now, that kind of play is getting reeled in. 

Under the updated law, things are much stricter. If a fielder jumps from beyond the boundary and touches the ball while in the air — that’s still legal. But here’s the catch: from that point on, they must stay completely within the field of play until the ball becomes dead. No more hopping around outside the rope and coming back for a second grab. 

And it’s not just for solo efforts anymore. The rule now applies to all fielders involved in a relay catch. So whether it’s the first fielder or a second or third teammate helping out, everyone must follow the same grounding rules — you must have been inbounds before touching the ball, and you can’t touch the ground outside the boundary again during the play. 

The MCC said the goal is to keep things fair and grounded — quite literally. While they appreciate the athletic brilliance that modern fielders bring to the game, this rule aims to ensure those moments stay within the spirit of fair play. It’s a significant tweak, and it might just change how fielders approach those high-stakes moments on the boundary rope.