Hazlewood no fan of obscure catch rule

Jasper Bruce | January 2, 2023

Josh Hazlewood has called for a little-known rule to be changed after his Test teammate Michael Neser pulled off a bizarre – but legal – catch playing for the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.

Late in Sunday’s match with the Sydney Sixers, batter Jordan Silk (41 runs off 23 deliveries) slogged to the deep where Neser was waiting.

But as the ball flew above his head, the paceman could not complete the catch in the field of play, so instead juggled the ball over the boundary rope to keep it alive.

With the ball still in the air, Neser gave chase, jumping from behind the boundary rope and batting it back to the field of play, where he took a catch.

Given Neser’s first contact with the ball was in the field of play and he had neither of his feet on the ground when he touched the ball outside the boundary rope, his catch stood and the Heat held on to win by 15 runs.

The Marylebone Cricket Club rules state: “The ball in play is to be regarded as being grounded beyond the boundary if a fielder, grounded beyond the boundary, touches the ball (or if) a fielder, after catching the ball within the boundary, becomes grounded beyond the boundary while in contact with the ball, before completing the catch.”

In October 2013, the MCC tweaked the rule to allow for catches like Neser’s. Previously, a fielder’s last point of contact with the ground could not be outside the field of play as they attempted a catch.

Neser’s catch sparked debate, with former Australia T20 player Cameron Boyce blasting the “bad rule” on Twitter, while Sydney Thunder captain Chris Green applauded it.

“I’m personally a fan as it promotes spectacular boundary catches that we love to see,” Green tweeted.

Hazlewood, though, did not agree.

“I didn’t like it all,” he told reporters on Monday.

“I think it should be back to the old rule where you have to be in the field of play and that’s your last step before you throw it back in. It was something different and ‘Ness’ is pretty cluey with the rules. It worked for them last night.

“Players are definitely aware of the rule. I’m not sure when (the rule) changed but it was a few years back.”

But Hazlewood admitted as long as the rule was in place, he too would take advantage of it if given the chance.

“If it’s in the rules, go for it,” he said.