MCC main border rules introduce change: what is this and how does it affect the game? , Cricket news
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Merillabone Cricket Club (MCC) have been implementing a new catching rules in cricket since October 2026, which will stop the ‘bunny-hop’ catches, where the fielders jump and touch the ball while staying outside the border. The rules change will still allow the catch where the fielders push the ball from within the range, step out, and dive back to complete the catch, but any contact with the ball from outside the boundary will require to land inside the game area for the catch to count the fielder. MCC has developed this rule change in response to concerns about catching catching catch for cricket audience. The current law only invalidates those grips where the player contacts both the ball and the ground while outside the border ropes. “MCC has prepared a new word, where the ‘bunny-hop’ beyond the boundary is completely removed, but the catch where the fielder pushes the ball from inside the boundary, steps out and then dives back to catch the ball,” MCC Note states, “MCC Note says. The new rule provides specific guidelines for fielders trying border catch. According to MCC: “Our solution is to limit any fielder that has gone out of the range to touch the ball, while only once airborns, and then, did so, that is completely on the ground within the range for the rest of the delivery period.”
The MCC further clarify: “Even if the ball is crossed – for another fielder or inside the field of sports – if the fielder steps out of the border, or later, a boundary will be scored. For clarity, it means that a chance gets, only after a time, after, to touch the boundary., The new law will be reflected in terms of playing ICC earlier next week, although official implementation begins in October 2026. As part of the revised rules, the 2023 Big Bash League catch like Michael Neser and Division Brevis for Chennai Super Kings against Punjab Kings in IPL will no longer be valid. Quiz: Who is that IPL player? The exact law, 19.5.2, said that a fielder who does not touch the ground is considered beyond the limits if their final ground contact was not completely within the limit before touching the ball. This applies to all the fielders contacting the ball after delivery of the bowler. Section 19.5.2.1 of the law specifies that if an initial ball of a fielder complies with contact 19.5.2, they can jump from outside to touch the ball during the airborne. However, all latter ground contact should be within the field of contacts until the ball gets dead, or a boundary will not be scored. Section 19.5.2.2 further determines that if a fielding jumping from the border returns to play the ball, they should stay and stay within the border until the ball is dead, or will be honored with a border. The purpose of this rule is to eliminate the controversial border catches, maintaining the possibility of spectacular fielding efforts starting within the field of sports. The new rules provide clear guidelines for both players and officials about boundary catch.
