No More 'Bunny-Hop' Catches Now
Now the famous ‘bunny-hop’ catches— which saw fielders jump and touch the ball despite being outside the boundary — would no longer be allowed.
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of the laws of the game, has amended Law 19.5.2. Now the famous ‘bunny-hop’ catches— which saw fielders jump and touch the ball despite being outside the boundary — would no longer be allowed. The rule will come into effect for international cricket from June 17, 2025 and be officially incorporated into the MCC’s Laws from October 2026.
The aim is to end confusion and limit catches involving multiple airborne touches or "bunny hops" outside the boundary, which fans and players increasingly viewed as unfair—even if technically legal. Now, palming the ball in the air from outside the boundary ropes and still landing outside will now be illegal. If the fielder steps outside the boundary and jumps to touch the ball, they ‘must’ land inside the field of play for the catch to count.
The rule allowed: Multiple airborne touches of the ball by a fielder who initially jumped from within the field. Relay catches where teammates could be outside the boundary mid-air, as long as initial conditions were met. The updated Law 19.5.2 brings major changes to how catches near the boundary are judged, particularly those involving airborne fielders or relay efforts.
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