Follow where the fielder was directing it
The 2026 MCC changes distinguish a throw towards the wickets to prevent runs or attempt a run-out from a failed stop or short transfer near the boundary. The latter is not automatically an overthrow merely because the ball ultimately crosses the rope.
Imagine a boundary fielder trying to scoop a moving ball to a teammate three metres away. Compare an infielder throwing at the stumps while batters run. Both balls escape to the boundary, but the intended action differs. The second sequence raises the overthrow calculation; the first must not be relabelled solely from its final destination.
The start of the replay supplies the missing fact
A clip beginning with a ball rolling towards the rope may show nothing of the earlier fielding action. Rewind to the attempted stop or throw. Was it directed towards the wickets? Was it a nearby transfer at the edge? Those observations are more informative than how far the ball travelled afterwards.
Avoid calling every additional boundary run an overthrow in a viewing note. Record the action first and let the official classification explain the scoring. This article isolates the new definition; it does not reproduce every element of the eventual run calculation or adjudicate an obscured incident from one camera angle.
Questions answered
Does a boundary after a fumble automatically establish an overthrow?
No. The action leading to it matters.
Why watch the intended target?
It helps distinguish a wicket-directed throw from a boundary stop or short transfer.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.