London: Under the revised interpretation of Law 19.5.2, fielders who jump from beyond the boundary can only make one airborne contact with the ball. If they touch the ball a second time, they must be back inside the field of play, otherwise, it will be declared a boundary.

This change comes in response to increasing debate over catches like Michael Neser’s acrobatic effort in the 2023 Big Bash League and the 2020 boundary relay between Tom Banton and Matt Renshaw — both deemed legal under the old law but controversial in the eyes of fans and players alike.

While the earlier version of the law allowed for multiple mid-air contacts outside the rope — resulting in what some described as “unfair” dismissals — the MCC has now drawn a firm line. “The fielder gets one chance, and one chance only,” the MCC noted in its official statement circulated by the ICC.

If a fielder parries the ball mid-air outside the boundary and lands out of bounds, even if the catch is completed later or by a teammate, it will count as a boundary. Relay catches are also subject to the same restriction.

The MCC acknowledged that while the previous law had led to “some spectacular” moments on the field, they also “felt like the fielder had — quite literally — gone too far.”

In the revised version, catches where the ball is popped up from inside the field, the fielder momentarily steps outside, and then re-enters to complete the catch are still legal, provided the “bunny hop” from beyond the boundary is not used more than once and the final grounding is inside the rope.

The new rule will first be enforced on June 17 during the Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh Test in Galle, marking the start of the new World Test Championship cycle.