Catching in Cricket Explained — Rules, Types & Famous Catches
Everything about catches in cricket: what constitutes a clean catch, the rules on boundary catches, catches in the crowd, and the most famous catches in cricket history.
A catch is the most common method of dismissal in cricket, accounting for approximately 35–40% of all wickets in Test cricket. The fielder must hold the ball after it has touched the bat (or glove) and before it touches the ground. Once a catch is taken, the batter is out regardless of what happens next — even if the fielder subsequently drops the ball after completing the catch.
What Constitutes a Clean Catch
Under the Laws, a catch requires: the ball to be touched by the bat or the hand/glove holding the bat; the fielder to complete a catch with their body fully under control; the ball not to touch the ground during the catch. Juggled catches — where the fielder juggles the ball between hands before completing the catch — are legal as long as the ball never touches the ground and the fielder does not use any external object to help control it.
Boundary Catches
A boundary catch is one of the most complex situations in cricket law. A fielder taking a catch near the boundary must: not be touching or stepping on the boundary rope while in contact with the ball; complete the catch before any contact with the rope or ground outside. If a fielder touches the rope while holding the ball, the delivery is a boundary (4 runs) rather than a wicket. A fielder may jump from inside the field of play, hold the ball, jump back inside having released and re-caught the ball — as long as they were never in contact with the boundary or ground beyond it while holding the ball.
Famous Catches in Cricket History
- Jonty Rhodes run-out at the 1992 World Cup — not a catch but equally famous for athleticism that redefined fielding standards
- Herschelle Gibbs (SA) vs Australia, 1999 — Gibbs dropped Steve Waugh when he had already thrown the ball up in celebration — Waugh allegedly said 'you've just dropped the World Cup'
- Ben Stokes (ENG) vs Australia, 2019 — diving full-length at the Ashes; the DRS confirmed the catch was clean by a frame
- Ricky Ponting slip catch off Glenn McGrath in the 2003 World Cup final — one of the cleanest low catches in World Cup history
Frequently asked questions
Is a juggled catch out in cricket?
Yes — a juggled catch is out provided the fielder completes the catch before the ball touches the ground, without using any external assistance. The fielder can transfer the ball between hands and even between fielders in a relay catch, as long as no fielder carrying the ball touches the boundary rope or ground outside the field of play during the catch.
What is a relay catch in cricket?
A relay catch occurs when one fielder intercepts the ball and transfers it to a second fielder who completes the catch before the ball hits the ground. Relay catches are most common at the boundary, where the first fielder catches the ball moving towards the rope and throws it back to a second fielder inside the rope who completes the catch.
Can a batter be out caught off a no-ball?
No — a batter cannot be dismissed caught from a no-ball. This is one of the protections the 'free hit' rule is built on — the batter can swing freely knowing even an edge to slip off a no-ball (or free hit) will not result in a caught-out dismissal.