The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), guardian of the Laws of Cricket, has announced a significant amendment to Law 19.5.2, aimed at regulating airborne boundary fielding efforts. This change, which will take effect in international cricket from June 17, 2025, and be fully incorporated into the Laws from October 2026, will effectively ban the much-debated “bunny hop” catches.
Under the previous law, fielders could make multiple airborne touches outside the boundary—provided their initial jump was from within the field of play. However, the updated Law 19.5.2 limits such actions. Now, any fielder jumping from beyond the boundary can only touch the ball once while airborne, and must remain entirely within the field thereafter until the ball is dead.
In relay catches, all fielders involved must meet the same grounding conditions. If any fielder lands or steps outside the boundary during the play—after making contact with the ball—a boundary will be awarded, regardless of the final outcome.
The MCC clarified: “The fielder gets one chance only to touch the ball from beyond the rope. From that point forward, any ground contact must be inside the boundary.”
This amendment follows high-profile cases like Michael Neser’s catch in BBL 2023, which, while legal, drew criticism for being unfair.
The new rule aims to standardize boundary catches, reduce ambiguity, and uphold the spirit of fair play.