Caught in cricket: why holding the ball is not enough
Understand bat contact, a fair catch and why a no-ball changes the dismissal.
The delivery and contact come first
MCC Law 33 requires a delivery that is not a no-ball to touch the striker's bat without previously contacting a fielder. A fielder must then hold it as a fair catch before it touches the ground. A ball secured after bouncing is not that dismissal.
Bat contact and contact with the striker's person are not interchangeable evidence. A scoreboard cannot tell you whether a faint edge occurred; use the confirmed decision rather than guessing from a wicket appeal.
Completing the catch matters
The Law describes a catch starting with first contact by a fielder and ending when the fielder has complete control over both the ball and their own movement. A momentary touch or a ball popping out is not automatically a completed catch.
Boundary conditions also matter. An apparent catch near the rope requires the relevant grounding facts. Do not judge it from a still image alone or assume an outstretched hand establishes a legal catch.
Read the dismissal and total together
When the striker is caught, completed running from that delivery does not score under Law 33; applicable penalty runs remain. That differs from the scoring effects of a run out.
ScoreZaap reports the provider's confirmed wicket and score. A hypothetical apparent edge followed by a review is still pending until the decision is reported. This guide describes the Law, not a close-catch ruling for a named match.