No More ‘Bunny Hops’: MCC Brings Cricket New Rules
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the official custodian of the Laws of Cricket, has announced a significant amendment to the boundary catch rule, effectively outlawing the controversial “bunny hop” juggling efforts that have recently sparked debate among fans and players. The change to Law 19.5.2, which governs airborne fielders near the boundary, aims to provide clarity and remove what was seen as an unfair loophole.
The new rule will be implemented in international cricket from June 17, 2025, and will be formally incorporated into the MCC’s Laws of Cricket in October 2026.
The amendment was prompted by several high-profile instances where fielders repeatedly touched the ball while airborne outside the boundary rope to complete a catch. A notable example was Michael Neser’s acrobatic catch for the Brisbane Heat in the 2023 Big Bash League, which, while technically legal under the old rule, was widely questioned for being against the spirit of the game.
Under the old law, a fielder’s position was judged based on their last point of contact with the ground. This allowed a fielder who had last touched the ground inside the boundary to legally jump and parry the ball multiple times while airborne outside the rope, as long as they didn’t touch the ground outside while in contact with the ball.
The updated Law 19.5.2 significantly tightens these conditions. Essentially, a fielder who has stepped or landed outside the boundary is now permitted only one airborne touch of the ball. After that single touch, the fielder must re-enter the field of play and be fully grounded inside the boundary before they can legally touch the ball again.
In a clarification, the MCC explained their solution: “Our solution has been to limit any fielder who has gone outside the boundary to touching the ball while airborne only once, and then, having done so, to be wholly grounded within the boundary for the rest of the duration of that delivery.”
The change also impacts relay catches. Now, if the first fielder parries the ball while airborne and lands outside the boundary, a boundary will be scored immediately, regardless of where the second fielder is positioned. The new rule effectively makes the boundary a “hard line” after the first airborne contact from a fielder who has been outside.
This move by the MCC is expected to be welcomed by many in the cricketing world who felt the previous interpretation allowed for an unfair advantage and strayed from the fundamental principle that a catch cannot be completed by a player who is grounded outside the field of play.
