XPost: uk.sport.cricket, aus.sport.cricket

I think the batsman is out and that's how it SHOULD BE.

They should NOT change the rule.


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https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/michael-nesers-brilliant-catch-in-bbl-within-the-laws-but-do-they-needing-changing-1351773

Neser's brilliant catch within the Laws, but do they needing changing?

The spectacular piece of fielding has sparked significant debate

Michael Neser's spectacular boundary catch to remove Jordan Silk at a
vital moment of the high-scoring BBL thriller at the Gabba has reignited
the debate about whether the Law regarding such dismissals needs to be
amended.

As Silk lofted Mark Steketee towards long-off, Neser first held the ball
inside the boundary then tossed it up when he realised he would run over
the rope. What followed was the astonishing part. Neser, while outside
the boundary, then timed a jump perfectly to palm the ball back inside
the rope while he was not touching the ground, then returned into the
field of play to hold the catch.

"I knew [Matt] Renshaw did it a couple of years ago," Neser told Channel
Seven. "I didn't know if they had changed the rules so I thought I would
give it a crack. Thankfully they didn't change the rules."

It was entirely within the Laws of the game and was correctly adjudged
to be out when it went to the TV umpire, but it created much debate
about whether it should be allowed. One view is that it rewards
outstanding skill and awareness, as shown by Neser, but the alternative
point is that the ball and the fielder have both been over the boundary.

This is how the relevant Law reads, with the key point being that
Neser's first touch was inside the field of play and that he was not
grounded beyond the boundary while touching the ball again.

"19.5.2 A fielder who is not in contact with the ground is considered to
be grounded beyond the boundary if his/her final contact with the
ground, before his/her first contact with the ball after it has been
delivered by the bowler, was not entirely within the boundary.

"33.2.1 A catch will be fair only if, in every case, either the ball, at
any time, or any fielder in contact with the ball, is not grounded
beyond the boundary before the catch is completed.

"33.2.2 Furthermore, a catch will be fair if…33.2.2.4 a fielder catches
the ball after it has crossed the boundary in the air, provided that the conditions in 33.2.1 are met."

The key points are:

1) The FIRST contact must be inside the boundary, and

2) the fielder can’t be touching the ball and the ground beyond the
boundary at the same time.

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