The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodian of the Laws of Cricket, has announced significant updates to the boundary catching rules, set to be implemented starting this month.
These changes aim to clarify the conditions under which a catch near the boundary rope is considered valid and are expected to influence international and domestic cricket matches alike. Alongside this, the MCC has also revised the relay catch regulations, leading to a more precise interpretation of fielding standards.
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New Boundary Catch Rule:
Previously, the rules allowed fielders to throw the ball multiple times in the air beyond the boundary, provided their feet did not touch the ground outside the field. This often led to controversies, especially after remarkable catches like Michael Neser’s in the BBL 2023, where he managed to catch the ball while airborne beyond the boundary.
The updated law now stipulates that once an airborne fielder touches the ball outside the boundary, they are only permitted a single touch. After this, the fielder must return inside the field boundary to complete the catch. This adjustment aims to prevent multiple touches from outside the boundary, effectively making boundary catches more definitive and reducing ambiguity in umpiring decisions.
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Revised Relay Catch Law:
The MCC has also amended the rules surrounding relay catches, a technique where a fielder catches the ball and throws it to a teammate in an attempt to complete a boundary catch. Under the new regulations, the fielder who initially touches the ball must be inside the field when their teammate completes the catch.
If the fielder is outside the boundary and cannot return before the catch is completed, the play will be deemed a boundary rather than a valid catch. This change aims to maintain fairness and consistency, discouraging questionable relay catches that previously relied on ambiguous interpretations.
These pivotal updates by the MCC will be incorporated into the ICC’s playing conditions later this month, with the MCC planning to adopt the new laws by October 2026. The changes reflect ongoing efforts to bring clarity and fairness to cricket’s boundary and relay catch rules, ultimately enhancing the integrity of the game.