Those amazing catches where players jump over the boundary, touch the ball in mid-air and throw it back in are going to be illegal. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and International Cricket Council (ICC) have decided to change this from October 2026. This comes after many fans felt these catches were unfair.
A great example was in the 2023 Big Bash League when Michael Neser of Brisbane Heat made a sick catch. He got the ball near the boundary, went over the line, tossed it back while in the air, then jumped back in to take the catch. Although it was allowed under the current rules, many felt it didn’t feel right with the game.
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So what’s changing?
Under the new rule if a fielder goes over the boundary and jumps to catch the ball they have to land back in the field for the catch to count. If they touch the ball outside the boundary more than once or don’t come back in after touching it, it’ll be a boundary instead of a wicket. This puts a clear limit on what a fielder can do once they cross the line.
Previously the rule just said a fielder couldn’t be in contact with the ball and the ground outside the boundary at the same time. That opened the door for players to find ways to make catches even after stepping out. But the MCC felt this was confusing especially for casual fans.
On the plus side not all boundary catches are banned. The new rule still allows a fielder to make a catch in the field, step out due to momentum and then return to finish the play as long as they only touch the ball once outside. In summary these new rules are trying to keep the game fair while still letting players show off their athleticism.
