In a major update to cricket’s rulebook, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has adopted a key change introduced by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), restricting how fielders can interact with the ball beyond the boundary line. The amendment, which takes effect in ICC-regulated matches, will be formally added to the MCC’s Laws of Cricket from October 2026.
The Existing Rule
Under the current Law 19.5.2, a fielder’s last point of contact with the ground must be within the boundary when completing a catch. The law allows a player to leap from within the field of play, make contact with the ball mid-air beyond the boundary, and toss it back in—provided they do not touch the ground outside while holding the ball.
What’s Changing
The new rule introduces a stricter condition: a fielder may now touch the ball only once while airborne beyond the boundary. To complete a legal catch, they must return to the field of play without making further contact with the ball while outside. Any additional touch from beyond the rope will result in the ball being ruled a boundary.
Outrageous catch from Michael Neser 😱
Allow Glenn Maxwell to explain why it's a legit catch #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/7YORTIUFat
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 1, 2023
Why the Change Was Made
The amendment stems from a widely debated incident during the Big Bash League in 2023. Brisbane Heat’s Michael Neser took a remarkable catch by repeatedly juggling the ball while moving outside the boundary to dismiss Sydney Sixers batter Jordan Silk. Although the dismissal was technically legal under the existing rules, it sparked criticism and raised questions about the spirit of the game.
In that match, Neser caught the ball, tossed it in the air while still airborne beyond the boundary, landed outside, leapt again, and threw the ball back in—completing a dramatic, if contentious, dismissal. Silk was ruled out, but the episode triggered renewed scrutiny of such plays.
In response to the controversy, cricket’s lawmakers have now closed the loophole. Fielders will no longer be permitted to make multiple contacts with the ball from beyond the boundary line.
The MCC has confirmed that the rule update is designed to bring more clarity and fairness to fielding laws and ensure that such extraordinary dismissals are no longer part of the game.
