MCC Revises Law: No More Boundary-Line Jump Catches from Outside the Field

The days of airborne catches initiated from beyond the boundary rope are officially coming to an end. In a significant update to the Laws of Cricket, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced a change that will take effect from June 17, 2025, aligning with the start of the ICC World Test Championship cycle — beginning with the Bangladesh vs. Sri Lanka Test match.

This change will put a stop to the long-debated and often controversial practice known as the "airborne catch," where a fielder could leap from outside the boundary to touch or throw the ball back into play for a potential dismissal or save.

According to an official MCC memorandum, a fielder can now only touch the ball once if he jumps from beyond the boundary line. To touch the ball a second time, the player must first re-enter the field of play completely and establish contact with the ground before making any further play on the ball. Failure to do so will result in the ball being declared a boundary — either four or six, depending on the situation. This rule also applies to relay catches.

In explaining the decision, MCC stated:

"Although the previous rule allowed multiple touches from beyond the boundary within legal play, it often conflicted with the spirit and fairness of the game. With this update, we aim to uphold both the beauty of fielding and the integrity of the sport."

Some notable past instances, such as Michael Neser's controversial catch in the 2023 Big Bash League that dismissed Jordan Silk, and the Tom Banton–Matt Renshaw relay catch in 2020, are now being cited as examples that would be deemed illegal under the new regulation — despite being legal at the time.

The revised law mandates that for any further contact with the ball after touching it outside the boundary, the fielder must have both feet grounded inside the field of play. Otherwise, the delivery will be considered a boundary. Similarly, if the first fielder in a relay catch throws the ball back before fully re-entering the field, it will also be deemed invalid.

Although the rule will be enforced in international cricket from June 2025, it will be formally added to the MCC's official Laws of Cricket in October 2026.

MCC emphasized that the purpose of this amendment is not to hinder innovation or spectacular fielding displays, but to reinforce standards of fair play and uphold the true spirit of cricket.