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New law on catches


Parkside said:
If anyone can understand this could they translate into Kong's English please.
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It's got links to examples that have been outlawed now.

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Parkside said:
If anyone can understand this could they translate into Kong's English please.
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Even in Kings English I’m not sure what it really means
Is it to stop catches where a fielder palms the ball up because he knows if he completes the catch he will be over the rope so he jumps over the rope and while the ball is in the air in the field of play he balances himself and jumps back into the field of play to complete the catch?
 
smoker said:
This is just getting absurd. Just make it so it's six as soon as the ball crosses the rope, whether in the air or a fielder's hands.
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And how about this for further absurdity.
"While the ICC playing conditions will be updated as early as the new WTC cycle, which starts with Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh on June 17 in Galle, the law itself will take effect from October 2026, when the next round of changes will come into play".
 
smoker said:
This is just getting absurd. Just make it so it's six as soon as the ball crosses the rope, whether in the air or a fielder's hands.
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The problem with that would be that it creates an unnecessary grey area, without multiple HD cameras at various points and angles across the boundary it would be near impossible to judge in many cases.
 
Raymondo said:
The problem with that would be that it creates an unnecessary grey area, without multiple HD cameras at various points and angles across the boundary it would be near impossible to judge in many cases.
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No worse than trying to judge if the fielder stepped on the rope or lobbed it back into play before he put his foot down outside the playing area. Both require a third umpire with video replay or the players to respect the umpires' decision. AI could work it out with a single camera if the ball and rope are standard diameter.
Dexter said:
That would be more absurd, not less.
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You think players taking catches outside the playing area (which is completely ungoverned by the laws of the game) as long as their feet are in the air isn't absurd and against the spirit of the game? It completely contradicts Law 19 of the game re: the boundary.
chatgpt said:
Yes — technology can and is already used to determine if a cricket ball has crossed the boundary rope in the air, though there is room for improvement.



✅ Current Technologies in Use​


1. Hawk-Eye / Ball-Tracking​


  • Primarily used for LBW and DRS, but can replay the trajectory of a ball.
  • However, it’s not always used to determine if a ball has crossed the boundary in the air.

2. High-Speed Cameras​


  • Placed along the boundary and in third umpire review rooms.
  • Can be used to slow down and zoom in on the moment when the ball passes over the rope.
  • Helps decide:
    • If the ball cleared the rope on the full (for a six),
    • Or bounced or rolled over (for four).

3. Spidercam / Drone Views​


  • Overhead views can sometimes help if there’s a doubt about the flight path.
  • Not always perfectly aligned or available for all deliveries.

4. Boundary Rope Sensors (experimental / rare)​


  • Some experimental setups have involved pressure-sensitive ropes or motion sensors, but these are not widely adopted due to cost and reliability concerns.


❗️Challenges​


  • Camera angles can be deceptive, especially when the rope is slightly raised or the ball is just marginally inside/outside.
  • Shadows can confuse the issue (e.g., the ball’s shadow crosses the rope but the ball itself doesn’t).
  • Player interference (fielder leaping or diving) may obstruct the view.


💡 Could Technology Be Improved?​


Yes — here are possible advancements that could help:


  1. Infrared or Laser Beams Along the Boundary
    • Similar to tennis line-calling systems.
    • Could detect when the ball crosses the boundary plane in the air.
  2. Ultra-High-Speed 360° Cameras
    • Combined with AI to track the ball’s 3D position in real time.
  3. RFID or Smart Ball Technology
    • Embedding chips in the ball to track its location relative to the field.
    • Currently under development by some cricket bodies.


📌 Summary​


  • Yes, technology is already used — especially high-speed replays and cameras — to determine if a ball has crossed the boundary in the air.
  • More advanced solutions (like laser boundaries or smart balls) could make this more accurate and consistent in the future.

Let me know if you’d like a visual or example from a real match!
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smoker said:
No worse than trying to judge if the fielder stepped on the rope or lobbed it back into play before he put his foot down outside the playing area. Both require a third umpire with video replay or the players to respect the umpires' decision. AI could work it out with a single camera if the ball and rope are standard diameter.
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Anecdotally I think it’s still easier to determine those methods that you mention, than would be with the line calls.

There have been some in football where even to this day we’re no clearer as to whether the ball was fully out and the lines on a football field are far easier to determine than the boundary on a cricket field.
 
smoker said:
No worse than trying to judge if the fielder stepped on the rope or lobbed it back into play before he put his foot down outside the playing area. Both require a third umpire with video replay or the players to respect the umpires' decision. AI could work it out with a single camera if the ball and rope are standard diameter.

You think players taking catches outside the playing area (which is completely ungoverned by the laws of the game) as long as their feet are in the air isn't absurd and against the spirit of the game? It completely contradicts Law 19 of the game re: the boundary.
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Yes I think it’s fine the way it is, and by far and away the easiest way to judge it.

Also how do you police this at levels which have few or no cameras? Genuinely impossible.
 
smoker said:
This is just getting absurd. Just make it so it's six as soon as the ball crosses the rope, whether in the air or a fielder's hands.
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Easier to say you can be caught out behind the boundary line.

Otherwise theres going to be way too many incidents where it isnt clear
 
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