Josh Hazlewood has led the censure of an obscure rule that allowed Michael Neser to pull off a sensational yet controversial catch to secure the Brisbane Heat’s 15-run win over the Sydney Sixers.
With Sunday night’s Big Bash League match on the line at the Gabba, Neser caught Jordan Silk (41 off 23 balls) in the 19th over, but only after knocking the ball in the air while behind the boundary rope.
Neser reached the ball just inside the boundary rope but was unable to complete the catch without stepping behind it, so threw the ball in the air, went outside the field of play, jumped to toss the ball up once more while airborne, then completed the catch inside the boundary rope.
Commentating on Seven, the Australian international Glenn Maxwell explained why the catch was legitimate.
“It’s out … as long as when he threw it up the second time his feet were in the air.
“Effectively he could throw it up 300 times as long as his feet were in the air.”
Neser told 7Cricket: “I knew [Matt] Renshaw did it a couple of years ago. I didn’t know if they had changed the rules so I thought I would give it a crack. Thankfully they didn’t change the rules.”
But Australian fast bowler Hazlewood “didn’t like it all”.
“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,” Hazlewood said on Monday. “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.”
Probs need to change that eh @BBL Seriously. Might as well keep hopping down the road to Caxton street throwing the ball up in the air. That’s just a bad rule #BBL12
— Cameron Boyce (@CaJBoyce) January 1, 2023
Hazlewood clarified that he would do the same thing if it meant taking a wicket, because “if it’s in the rules, go for it”, but still joined former players Marcus North and Cameron Boyce in calling for a change to the rule.
“Probs need to change that eh, @BBL … seriously,” Boyce tweeted. “Might as well keep hopping down the road to Caxton street throwing the ball up in the air. That’s just a bad rule.”
North tweeted: “If this is within the rules of cricket then they need to change,” North tweeted. “No way that should be out. What’s the point of the boundary?”
If this is within the rules of cricket then they need to change. No way that should be out. What’s the point of the boundary 😝 https://t.co/dmzTLDgqmJ
— Marcus North (@Marcus_North) January 1, 2023
Fans on social media joined them, arguing that although the catch was within the rules, the rule was unfair, however Sydney Thunder bowler Chris Green did not have a problem with it.
“I’m personally a fan as it promotes spectacular boundary catches that we love to see [as] part of the game,” Green tweeted.
Exceptional awareness and composure from Michael Neser. And out under the laws of the game. But it clearly shouldn’t be out under the rules of the game. Once a player is grounded outside the field of play, he should be out of the play. #BBL12
— Adam White (@White_Adam) January 1, 2023
I absolutely loathe this trend of fielders being able to throw the ball back in and catch it, but to do it twice is an utter pisstake. Great effort by Neser but how can this be out?
ICC needs to change the rules. If both the ball and player go past the boundary rope, it’s six. https://t.co/9kS1Ohae7k
— Matt Bungard (@TheMattBungard) January 1, 2023
Re Neser catch: Even thought it’s within the laws IMO you shouldn’t be able to jump again outside the field of play. The same way you can’t jump from from outside the field of play to begin with.
Agree / disagree? @abcsport
— Ben Cameron (@BenCameron23) January 1, 2023
The Sixers made a gallant response in their pursuit of a BBL record run chase, but fell short to be all out from the final delivery for 209.
Neser’s catch to dismiss Sixers skipper Silk was the decisive moment in the run chase after he had also taken 3-41 with the ball.
Silk and allrounder Hayden Kerr (27) added 54 in 26 balls for the sixth wicket but Kerr was brilliantly stumped by Jimmy Peirson off spinner Matt Kuhnemann (2-31).
Earlier Josh Brown earlier produced his whirlwind innings to score 62 off just 23 balls in the Heat’s 5-224, in front of 23,689 fans.
He brought up his fifty in just 19 deliveries, the equal fifth fastest in Heat history in just his second BBL game.