Michael Neser sparks debate as he juggles the ball OUTSIDE the boundary before finishing the catch

Michael Neser’s notable juggling boundary catch in Sunday’s Big Bash League sparked a major debate over whether it was a legitimate dismissal or a six.

When Jordan Silk carved Mark Steketee high towards the extra cover limit during the Sydney Sixers game against Brisbane Heat, Neser caught the hook and tripped over the rope.

In doing so, he attempted to return the ball but was only able to deflect it over the rope, where he was forced to juggle his feet in the air again before making the catch on the pitch.

Michael Neser (centre) made a controversial catch in Brisbane’s win over the Sixers

The TV referee reviewed the sending off and ruled it out as Neser’s feet didn’t touch the ground off the rope when he had the ball in his hands.

Neser told 7Cricket: “I knew it [Matt] Renshaw did it a few years ago. I didn’t know if they had changed the rules so thought I’d give it a try. Luckily they didn’t change the rules.”

The catch sparked a major debate over the rules of the game, with many people believing it was a maximum rather than the end of Silk’s 41 of 23 balls in the Sixers’ pursuit of 225.

Neser touched the ball first in field as he tried to stop it going to six

He then flicked it in the air as he stepped over the border line to catch it

He then jumped into the air while juggling the ball up and back into the field

Before stepping back over the boundary line to finally grab the ball and complete the catch

“He didn’t touch the ball when he touched the ball outside [the boundary rope]’ said Adam Gilchrist on Fox Cricket.

But fellow commentator Mark Howard had a different take on the incident: “So you’re telling me you can just keep juggling through the entire boundary, do three laps?”

Sydney Thunder star Chris Green echoed Gilchrist’s thoughts.

“Incredible catch! Huge moment in Neser’s game,” he tweeted.

In a follow-up tweet, he added: “[Glenn] Maxwell explained the rule really well as seven make the catch in court as long as you are off the ground when you put the ball in hand over the rope and you end up back on the rope when you complete the catch, then it’s over. ‘

Sydney Thunder star Chris Green thought Neser’s catch was perfectly legitimate

He then explained to a fan why he felt the referee upheld the decision

Pursuant to Law 19.4.2 of the MCC Laws for Cricket:

“The ball in play is considered placed outside the boundary when a fielder, who is outside the boundary under 19.5, touches the ball.

“A fielder, after catching the ball within the boundary, is grounded outside the boundary while in contact with the ball before completing the catch.”

Crucially, although Neser touched the ball after jumping from across the boundary, he wasn’t considered grounded outside the boundary because his first contact with the ball was in play.

Neser’s catch proved crucial to the Heat but sparked heated debate in world cricket

However, many fans didn’t see it that way.

“Michael Neser is at least 2-3 meters off the top rope when he jumps to throw the ball in, that’s literally every definition of a six. If we give that players can stand over the rope and bounce the ball back,” one viewer tweeted.

“To touch the ball with your feet on the ground outside of the boundary must be a six,” wrote Craig Cook.

“I’m sorry that’s a quip of a rule, just as well oblige 20 players to stand behind the ropes and throw the ball back! That’s a 6,” added Ray Bird.

“So Neser could stand there for 10 minutes and jump off the ground and throw the ball in the air! What a ridiculous interpretation of the rule!’ wrote Jason Nichol.

“That’s a 6, both feet were outside the boundary rope when he put it back in play. It shouldn’t be out there,” said Raymond Griffiths.

“Anyone who says it’s out is absolutely insane. There’s nothing that could change my mind about a six. Once the skater touches the ground outside the boundary, he is out of bounds. There’s a big difference in jumping from within the boundary,” argued Tim Davies.

Brisbane won a 15-run thriller after Josh Brown stole the show with whirlwind innings to score 62 of just 23 balls in the Heat’s 5-224.

The Sixers responded valiantly in their quest for a BBL record run, but failed to go all in on the final delivery for 209.

Josh Brown hit 62 from just 23 deliveries as the Brisbane Heat posted 5-224 on Sunday

The Heat needed something special to get their season off the ground, and Brown delivered it in front of 23,689 fans while using a racquet he built himself.

He hit his 50 in just 19 deliveries, the fifth fastest in Heat history in just his second BBL game, and hit with a strike rate of 269.57, breaking the limit six times with a selection of sparkling shots.

Brown’s exciting innings were leveled by Nathan McSweeney, who joined the 29-year-old for the game against the Sixers.

McSweeney looted 84 runs from 51 balls before running out.