Explained: How ICC’s latest rule costed South Africa a six in 3rd ODI vs AUS?

How ICC’s latest rule cost South Africa a six in the 3rd ODI vs AUS?

A controversial incident took place during the 47th over of Australia’s innings in the third ODI against South Africa at Mackay when Cameron Green, batting on 84, smashed Wiaan Mulder towards long-on. Dewald Brevis, stationed at the boundary, took a stunning catch but was forced over the rope. In an attempt to save the dismissal, Brevis threw the ball back into play, jumped again outside the boundary, and deflected it back on the playing field. While South Africa believed he had executed a legal boundary save. However, the umpires awarded six runs to Green.

What is ICC’s new rule for such catches?

According to the updated ICC and MCC playing conditions, a fielder who first makes contact with the ball inside the field can only touch it once while airborne outside the boundary rope. To make a second attempt, the player must land back inside the field of play before re-engaging with the ball. Since Brevis touched the ball multiple times outside the rope without making himself inside the field, the act was considered invalid, and Green’s shot counted as a six.

Check out the video below:

Why was this rule introduced?

The rule was made after a controversial moment in the 2023 Big Bash League, when Brisbane Heat’s Michael Neser completed a juggling effort outside the rope and claimed a catch. At the time, the dismissal was given out, but it triggered debates on the spirit of the game. To simplify boundary-catching scenarios, the ICC revised its laws, effective from 2024.

The ruling had a direct impact on the match. Instead of being dismissed in the 80s, Green survived and went on to smash his maiden ODI century in just 47 balls, the second-fastest by an Australian. His 118* guided Australia to 431/2, with centuries also from Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. In reply, the Proteas were bundled out for just 155. Notably, this was South Africa’s heaviest defeat in ODIs by 276 runs, though they still claimed the series 2-1.

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