Soft Signals & Boundary Catches

The 'soft signal' was the on-field umpire's initial decision on close catches, used by the third umpire as a fallback when video was inconclusive.

From 2023 the ICC abolished the soft signal in Tests; the third umpire now has primary authority for clean-catch decisions on referral.

Boundary catches must clearly show no contact between the fielder and the rope while the ball is held.