Summary
A batsman is out caught if a fielder catches the ball on the full after it has touched the bat or glove holding the bat.
Full Explanation
Caught is the most common form of dismissal in cricket. The laws around catches have evolved significantly:
For a legal catch: - The ball must not have touched the ground after coming off the bat - The fielder must be in complete control of the ball and their movement - The fielder must be within the field of play (not touching the boundary) - The ball must have come off the bat or the hand holding the bat
The "boundary catch" rule has been refined over the years. A fielder can catch the ball, throw it in the air before crossing the boundary, re-enter the field, and complete the catch — as long as the ball doesn't touch the ground and the fielder had their last contact with the ground inside the field.
The introduction of DRS and UltraEdge has led to more accurate caught-behind decisions, with many edges too faint for the naked eye now being detected by technology.
Key Points
- •Most common form of dismissal in cricket
- •Ball must not touch the ground after leaving the bat
- •Fielder must be in complete control and within the field of play
- •DRS/UltraEdge has improved accuracy of caught-behind decisions
- •Relay catches at the boundary are legal if done correctly
Notable Controversies
- •Herschelle Gibbs 'dropped' Sachin Tendulkar, 1999 WC — was it a clean catch?
- •Multiple boundary catch controversies — Trent Boult 2019 WC Final
- •Soft signal controversy on catches — now removed
Related Rules
Decision Review System (DRS)
A technology-based system that allows players to challenge on-field umpiring decisions using ball-tracking, UltraEdge, and video replays.
UltraEdge / Snickometer
Sound-based technology that detects edges by analyzing audio waveforms alongside video footage, used in DRS for caught-behind and LBW decisions.