ICC to Outlaw ‘Bunny Hop’ Boundary Catches

Following revisions announced by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the International Cricket Council (ICC) is preparing to implement a fresh regulation to prohibit ‘bunny hop’ catches at the boundary. This adjustment targets a practice made popular by Big Bash League (BBL) players.

The updated regulation will be integrated into the ICC’s playing conditions later this month and officially incorporated into the MCC’s Laws by October 2026.

Updated Rule Parameters

According to the revised rule, a fielder who moves beyond the field’s boundary is allowed only a single contact with the ball while in the air outside the boundary.

To successfully complete a catch, the fielder must then fully re-enter the playing area before making any additional contact with the ball. This adjustment effectively bans the multi-touch relay catches beyond the boundary line that have stirred controversy in recent seasons.

Background of the Amendment

The amendment is a response to notable incidents in the BBL that exposed the loophole. In the 2023 season, Michael Neser of the Brisbane Heat executed a remarkable yet contentious catch to dismiss Jordan Silk of the Sydney Sixers.

Neser, while pursuing a lofted drive near the boundary, caught the ball but was carried over the boundary by his momentum. While airborne, he cleverly tossed the ball, landed outside the field, jumped again to palm it back in, and then secured the catch inside the boundary.

Although the catch was legal under existing regulations, the play ignited debate about whether it was in accordance with the spirit of the sport.

Neser mentioned that he was aware of the rule because of a similar play by teammate Matt Renshaw during BBL 2020, where Renshaw relayed a catch to Tom Banton after stepping outside the field.

These plays sparked debate among fans and players, questioning whether the current law encouraged unnatural fielding techniques.

MCC’s Explanation

An MCC statement disseminated by the ICC clarified the rationale behind the change.

“While the existing rule permitted impressive fielding, it also led to unusual catches that, to many cricket fans, seemed unfair. The ‘bunny hop’ made it seem as though the fielder had gone too far.”

The MCC considered reverting entirely to the pre-2010 rule, which required a fielder to re-establish contact with the ground inside the field before any further touches.

Instead, the revised wording aims for a balance. Fielders can still jump from within the field to push the ball back before stepping over the boundary, but once outside, they are limited to one airborne touch before they must fully return to play.

The change will first be applied in the ICC’s playing conditions for the upcoming World Test Championship cycle, commencing with Sri Lanka’s Test against Bangladesh in Galle on June 17. The updated rule will be formally incorporated into the laws in October 2026.