Southwick and Shoreham Cricket Club, one of the oldest cricket clubs in the world, has recently prohibited players from hitting sixes due to neighbour complaints about property damage.
Situated near Brighton in West Sussex, the club's players now face the unusual restriction of not being able to score the highest points from a single shot. Neighbours had raised concerns about broken windows, damaged cars, and ruined sheds from cricket balls landing on their properties.
Established in 1790, the club has instituted a rule that a player’s first six will not count for any runs, and if a second six is hit, the player will be declared out.
A player expressed frustration to MailOnline, stating that hitting a six is a significant part of the sport's excitement and that banning it takes away the joy of the game. They did not agree with altering the rules in such a manner.
Over recent years, batters have been warned to avoid hitting the ball into a specific area because of a neighbour who threatened to involve the police. Another player mentioned that health and safety concerns have become paramount, with insurance companies charging exorbitant fees to cover accidental damage or injuries at sports clubs. They commented that those who choose to live next to a cricket ground should expect occasional cricket balls in their gardens.
Other cricket grounds have also adopted unique rules. For example, the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury had a tree within the boundary that awarded four runs if hit, while Lancing Manor had two trees behind the bowler’s arm that were worth two runs each.
Mary Gill, 80, whose family has resided in a Grade II-listed cottage next to the Green for generations, expressed her views to MailOnline. She mentioned that the ground is small and cannot accommodate young men who just want to hit the ball as far as possible. She recounted how her family has always dealt with flying cricket balls causing various types of damage, including one incident in the 1940s where a cricket ball was found in her baby brother’s pram.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which governs the laws of cricket, has been contacted for their comments on the situation.