A 230-year-old cricket club has banned players from hitting sixes after neighbours complained about damage to their properties.
Residents surrounding Southwick and Shoreham Cricket Club in West Sussex, which was formed in 1790, have claimed that house windows, cars, sheds, and even people have been hit in the crossfire by the airborne cricket balls.
Now, batsmen at the club will not be awarded the highest score from a single shot – which is achieved by hitting the ball over the boundary rope without it bouncing.
If players at the club hit a six, then it will not count for any runs, and if they are “unlucky” enough to do it again, then they will be out.
Mark Broxup, the Southwick club treasurer, said: “We took the proactive decision to ban sixes at the ground after a few incidents in the past when cars, houses and even roofs were damaged.
“We don’t want to have to pay costly insurance or have any legal claims against us so it seemed a sensible thing to do.”
However, the move has caused an uproar amongst players as the laws of the ancient game are rewritten.
One batsman told MailOnline: “Hitting the bowler for a six out is part of the glory of the sport. How can you ban it? It’s ridiculous.
“To take that away removes the joy of it. I don’t agree that the rules should be tinkered with in this fashion.”
Another player said: “Everything is about health and safety these days and insurance companies are charging a fortune to indemnify sports clubs against accidental damage or injury to bystanders.
“If you buy a house next to a cricket ground then you’ve got expect a few cricket balls in your garden.”
More to follow…