By Zainab Shafiq 
A major shift is coming to cricket laws as the MCC changes law regarding boundary catches, bringing an end to some of the most dramatic fielding displays seen in the Big Bash League. Starting later this month, the ICC will enforce the new rule in international matches, and the MCC will fully integrate it into the Laws of Cricket by October 2026. The rule change specifically targets airborne fielders who make multiple contacts with the ball while outside the boundary.
The move comes after intense debate around Michael Neser’s incredible catch during BBL 2023. Playing for Brisbane Heat, Neser caught a lofted shot near the boundary, tossed it up mid-air while flying over the rope, then jumped again from outside to bat it back in and complete the catch after regaining balance inside the field. Though the catch was legal at the time, the MCC changes law to ensure this kind of multiple-touch fielding outside the boundary will no longer be allowed.
The cricket community was divided over these moments, with many feeling they went against the spirit of fair play. According to a statement from the MCC, Neser’s act, while lawful, gave the impression that the fielder had gone too far. The MCC and ICC jointly concluded that such plays, though spectacular, created confusion among fans and blurred the line between skill and loophole.
What the New Boundary Rule Means for Fielders
Under the new law, a fielder who jumps from beyond the boundary can only make one airborne contact with the ball before returning entirely to the field of play. If a fielder touches the ball while airborne outside the boundary more than once during a single play, the delivery will result in a boundary. The updated rule still allows a fielder to push the ball back from within the boundary before stepping out, but any further touch must happen inside the field after grounding.
This rule change impacts not just Neser’s moment but also earlier efforts like Matt Renshaw’s assist to Tom Banton in BBL 2020. In that match, Renshaw saved a six with an airborne tap outside the boundary and directed it to Banton, who completed the catch. These kinds of relay catches will now be considered illegal if any player outside the rope touches the ball more than once before regrounding inside the field.
MCC Changes Law for Balancing Spectacle and Fairness
The decision to revise the law was made to preserve fairness without eliminating impressive fielding altogether. The MCC stated that while they did not want to revert to the stricter pre-2010 version of the rule, some limitation was needed to prevent overly complex plays that seemed to bend the logic of the game. The new wording allows for athletic brilliance but only within a more reasonable structure.
Spectacular catches like those by Harleen Deol against England or Alex Hales in BBL 2020 will still be legal, since they involved clean execution without repeated airborne contact from outside the boundary. However, the MCC changes the law to now place a strict one-touch rule on any fielder jumping from beyond the boundary line.
With the ICC adopting this change starting June 17 during Sri Lanka’s series against Bangladesh, players will have to adjust quickly. By the time the next cycle of MCC Laws begins in October 2026, this updated boundary rule will be standard in every format.
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