Explosive batter Jake Fraser-McGurk provided the most talked-about moment of Saturday night’s Melbourne Derby at Marvel Stadium, though it didn’t add a single run to his total. During the Melbourne Renegades' innings against the Melbourne Stars on January 10, 2026, the 23-year-old launched a delivery from Mitchell Swepson high into the night sky, only for the ball to collide with the stadium's closed retractable roof. Former Australian Rules Footballer Daniel Gorringe Gets Injured As He Slips and Falls While Attempting to Bowl A Delivery Ahead of A BBL 2025-26 Match (Watch Video).

The incident occurred during a tense powerplay period, momentarily stunning the crowd and players. Under the Big Bash League’s (BBL) updated playing conditions, the umpires were forced to make a split-second judgment call on the trajectory of the ball.

Jake Fraser-McGurk Hits the Roof

A Controversial "Dead Ball" Ruling

While previous seasons of the BBL famously awarded an automatic six for any ball hitting the roof structure at Docklands, the rules were amended ahead of the 2023-24 season to grant umpires more discretion.

In this instance, on-field umpires determined that Fraser-McGurk’s miscued leg glance was traveling more "up" than "out." Because they concluded the ball would likely not have cleared the boundary rope had the roof been open, the delivery was ruled a dead ball. The shot was effectively wiped from the record, and the ball had to be re-bowled.

Historical Context of the "Roof Rule"

Marvel Stadium (formerly Docklands) is unique in world cricket for its retractable roof, which has been hit several times in BBL history. Notable instances include:

Aaron Finch: Hit the roof twice during his career, leading to early versions of the rule.

Joe Clarke and Beau Webster: Both hit the roof in the same match in 2023, which prompted the rule change after critics argued that "vertical" mishits shouldn't be rewarded with maximum runs.

Current rules state that a six is only awarded if the umpires believe the ball was on a clear path to cross the boundary. If a fielder is deemed to have been in a position to catch the ball, the "dead ball" ruling prevents the batter from being unfairly rewarded or dismissed.

Match Impact and Result

The distraction of the roof strike seemed to affect Fraser-McGurk’s rhythm; he was dismissed shortly after for 17 off 14 balls. Despite a valiant 80 from Josh Brown, the Renegades finished their 20 overs at 166/7. Fact Check: Did Ellyse Perry Propose To Babar Azam During BBL 2025-26? Here's the Truth.

The Melbourne Stars successfully chased the target with 25 balls to spare, led by an unbeaten 84 from Sam Harper. The eight-wicket victory moves the Stars to second on the BBL|15 ladder, while the Renegades remain in a battle to stay within the top four as the tournament nears its final stages.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 10, 2026 05:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).