Can You Catch the Ball Outside the Boundary in Cricket?

The game of cricket is becoming more enjoyable, and cricketers in most countries are considered heroes who stand out to lift their countries high. Many people, however, fear the sport because of its complex rules, but here’s something you don’t hear about very often. The more you play cricket games, the more you realize that the rules are what make it exciting; and protect you as well. So can you catch the ball outside the boundary in cricket?

You cannot catch the ball outside the boundary in cricket. Unless your feet are not grounded outside the ropes at the time of contact with the ball, only then can it be a legal catch. Besides that, it will not count as a legal catch since it is beyond the boundary.

You don’t have to be afraid of playing cricket because of the rules governing the gameplay. Read ahead to find out about how you go about the game without getting caught with some of the most stringent rules.

What Is the Rule of Catch In Cricket?

The rule of catch in cricket is, a striker is out Caught if a bowl, not a No Ball touches his/her bat without first being in contact with a fielder. And the ball is subsequently caught by a fielder as a fair catch.

If you went out to the pitch intending to avoid being struck by a cricket ball, then I believe you are putting your team at risk, and if anything you should be replaced right away. So you shouldn’t be afraid about getting hit by the ball or having to catch it mid-air, rather, I think you should be mindful of what rule can rule you out if you touch the ball illegally.

So here are several rules to guide you along with this:

Out Caught

You will get out caught if a legit delivery from a bowler hits your bat and it gets caught by a fielder or a bowler before it touches the ground. It applies even if you intentionally hit the ball and either the bowler or fielder catches it before it reaches the ground.

However, as a batter, you will be safe from Out Caught if:

• The bowler delivers a dead ball (batter not ready for the bowl) or a no-ball. A no-ball is when the bowler oversteps on the crease than he should during the delivery. it can also be when the umpire feels the bowl was dangerous or unfair.
• You will also be safe from the out caught if you do not hit the ball with your bat or a gloved hand with which you are holding the bat.
• If you hit the ball and it lands beyond the boundary or just on the boundary.
• If the ball you hit bounces on the ground before getting caught by a fielder.
• If the fielder or bowler catching your ball accidentally contacts the boundary rope or the area outside the boundary with any part of their body, you will also be safe.

Can a Fielder Stand Outside the Boundary?

A fielder can stand outside the boundary as long as he has not yet touched the ball. This accrues no action in respect related to the boundary or caught rule. You can still get inside the field of play if you don’t touch the ball immediately.

However, you should know that when you touch the ball, your last contact with the ground before the first contact with the ball will determine whether it’s an out or a boundary 6.

So when a fielder’s last point is taken into account:

• When you briefly leave the field of play (outside the boundaries) and return. Before your first contact with the ball, any catch you make will be a fair catch if your last ground contact happens to have been within the boundary.
• If you catch the ball from within the cricket pitch, throw it in an off-balance situation, and go outside the boundary line, you can come back inside to take a catch.
• In addition, there is this moment when the fielder is outside the boundary and jumps to catch the ball mid-air and lands within the field of play (boundary). Here you will have scored a boundary 6.

The umpires mark the ends of a cricket pitch before they toss the ball for the first game. Therefore, the boundary shall exist for the entire match and may only be modified if there’s a need for a subsequent match.

What Happens If the Ball Hits the Umpire And Get’s Caught?

If a ball hits the umpire and is caught it becomes dead. However, if the ball hits the umpire and still bounces off, the play continues since the ball is still live. So the ball will be dead if it lodges in the umpire’s clothing or it seriously injures the official.

The cricket ball is somewhat small, and anyone can dismiss its chances of injuring someone. But the ball is quite sturdy and heavy, so its effect depends on its immediate force. So whenever you are on the court, it’s good to be aware of the ball’s effect. That’s why you need a helmet at all times during the gameplay. It could cause a skull injury that can be so unfortunate and result in death.

Therefore, if a ball seriously injures an umpire, it will be dead to allow for medical attention to the injured official.

Can You Catch a Cricket Ball In Your Hat?

You cannot catch a cricket ball in your hat because it is against the cricket rules. Similarly, you should also not catch the ball with folded clothing or anything else that may make the catch be considered invalid.

Catching the ball with a hat or folded clothing on your hand accrues the following penalties:

• The ball will be considered dead immediately.
• The umpire will award five penalty runs to the batters. This is in addition to the completed runs that the umpire will credit to the batting team.
• However, if you catch the ball after it gets into contact with your shirt, cap, or any other equipment. The rules consider these to be part of the ground. Therefore, there will be no penalties against you.