One of the oldest county cricket clubs in England, Southwick and Shoreham Cricket Club near Brighton in West Sussex, has banned players from hitting sixes due to complaints from neighbours about balls breaking windows, cars, and sheds. The club, formed in 1790, has informed players that the first six will not count for any runs, and the second attempt will result in the player being deemed out.
This decision was made due to the small dimensions of the ground, which caused balls to frequently fly into the neighbourhood, resulting in damage. Mary Gill, a nearby neighbour, shared her experiences with MailOnline, saying, "My parents and grandparents lived in this house before me, and cricket balls were always sailing over and causing damage." She recounted an incident from the 1940s when her mother found a cricket ball in her baby brother's pram. Over the years, her family has dealt with smashed roof tiles, broken windows, and various other forms of damage.
The players, however, are unhappy with the decision. One batter expressed, "Hitting the bowler for a six 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." Another player highlighted the challenges of modern regulations, stating, "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."
Such peculiar decisions are not unprecedented in English cricket. For instance, the St Lawrence ground in Canterbury (Kent) had trees inside the boundaries, and hitting them would yield four runs.