The Merilbon Cricket Club (MCC), an organization that makes cricket rules, has considered it illegal to catch several times outside the boundary line. The new rules regarding this will be included in the playing eleven of the International Cricket Council this month and the MCC rules from October next year.
After the implementation of this new rule, the spectacular catches taken by Tom Banton will not be considered valid with the help of Michael Neser during BBL 2023 and Matt Rainshaw in 2020. The ICC has sent a note to its member board regarding this, stating that some of the best catches were seen as per the current rules, but due to this rule some unusual views were also considered valid, which most of the cricket lovers also find inappropriate.
In fact, MCC, referring to the catch taken by Nesar, said that the fielder hoped Banni before completing the catch inside the boundary. However, according to the rules it was correct by then, but it seemed that the fielder had surpassed the boundary line. Both these incidents gave rise to a new debate, after which the ICC and MCC had to review their rules 19.5.2.
What is Banni Hop Catch?
MCC has now made it clear that any fielder will have to come on the field of play to make contact with the ball for a second time after leaping from the boundary line, otherwise it will be across the boundary. The note states that the MCC has given it a new word Banni Hop which will now be considered illegal, but in such a catch the fielder steps out to throw the ball inside the boundary line and then go inside the boundary line and catch it, then such a catch will be considered valid.
The new rules will be implemented at the beginning of the new cycle of the World Test Championship, the first match of which will be played between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Gaul from 17 June. Changes in the rules will be officially applicable from October 2026.
The MCC has changed the law to make catches like this ‘bunny hop’ one from Michael Neser illegal. In short:
If the fielder’s first touch takes them outside the boundary, their *second* touch must take them back inside the field of play.
Basically, you’re no longer allowed to… pic.twitter.com/1jaqAev0hy
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) June 14, 2025