One of the world’s oldest cricket clubs bans sixes to manage risks

A cricket club has banned players from hitting sixes amid complaints from neighbouring properties around damage and injuries.

Southwick and Shoreham Cricket Club, which was formed in 1790, has reportedly received complaints from neighbours that house windows, cars and sheds have been in the firing line when plays have occured.

A six means that a hitter has stuck the ball hard enough to go out of the boundary of the field without first touching the ground, meaning they have scored a maximum of six runs.

While nets have been erected by the club, batters have been told that the first six will count as no runs and that if it happens a second time during their innings, they are out.

Mark Broxup, treasurer of the club, was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying: “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.”

The move did cause backlash from batters, with one saying: “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 to expect a few cricket balls in your garden.”

Another said: “Hitting the bowler for a six out is part of the glory of the sport. How can you ban it? It’s ridiculous.”

In a Facebook post, the club responded saying that it had taken other measures to manage risks, including moving men’s games and 20-over cricket to a different venue where sixes are not banned.

However, junior and women’s cricket is still being played under the six-hit ban.

The statement said: “Southwick & Shoreham Cricket Club proactively moved league and 20-over games to Buckingham Park some time ago, investing £25k in the process. This decision was made to respect our neighbours and mitigate any risks.”

Speaking on the Jeremy Vine show, club chairman Des O’Dell said: “It’s something that’s come about over a few years… The club has been there since 1790, in 1790 it was a very different environment, and progressively over the years obviously houses have been built.

“We made the decision back in 2018 to move… our men’s 20-over teams, because… all the kit is better, the bats are hitting further and people are fitter and stronger.”

“What we’ve kept on Southwick Green is our junior teams because the area is ideal for junior teams… and our ladies team, the Southwick Sheilas, they play there as well… and we’ve also got a group of gentlemen of a certain age… who don’t hit the ball very far, or very hard.”

He adds that the rule has largely been brought in due to visiting teams that come in and start hitting sixes. The new ban is designed to discourage that, and to protect and respect neighbours.

He concluded: “When you see the ground, it is quite obvious that there is a risk you could do some damage and we want to be responsible and we want to get on with our neighbours.”