Cricket Club, Established 234 Years Ago, Implements Ban on Sixes!

A cricket club in Britain has made a surprising decision by imposing a ban on hitting sixes. The Southwick and Shoreham Cricket Club in West Sussex, founded in 1790, had to take this step due to the significant damage caused to nearby buildings from powerful shots by the batsmen. The cricket ground was surrounded by numerous houses, which have suffered huge damage including broken windows and dented cars whenever a batsman hits a particularly big six. In cricket, a shot that clears the boundary while the ball is in air is termed a six, traditionally earning the batsman six runs. 

In a recent statement, the club’s treasurer, Mark Broxhap, cited instances where cars, houses, and roofs have been damaged in the vicinity, leading to the decision to ban the hitting of sixes. He said, ‘We do not want to pay expensive insurance or face legal cases against us.’ 

When the club was founded, there were no residential areas nearby. However, with changing times, numerous houses have come up in the neighborhood. Despite the club installing nets to contain the ball within the grounds, the height of these nets is inadequate. Some players within the club have expressed dissatisfaction with the ban on hitting sixes. One batsman expressed the consequence of hitting a six, highlighting how it commands respect and removing it decreases the enjoyment of the game. Inversely, another player argued against such changes, suggesting the individuals buying homes near a cricket ground should accept occasional balls in their gardens.