One of Britain's oldest cricket clubs 'forced' to ban hitting sixes

In the present day, when 10 and 20 over matches are played often and even Test cricket has adopted the aggressive "Bazball" style of batting, what good is cricket without big sixes?

Unfortunately, one of the oldest cricket clubs in Britain has banned players from hitting sixes, but it has a legitimate reason to do so because complaints by neighbours have compelled the club to change the laws of the age-old game.

South Asians who have played street cricket may easily relate to the new rule since they too either don’t count the run or declare the batsman out, when the ball lands into someone's house.

Southwick and Shoreham Cricket Club, founded in 1790 near Brighton, has told batsmen that no run will be counted on the first six and the batsman will be out for hitting a second six during the same innings on the Green ground in Brighton.

The decision has been taken after complaints were made of balls hitting people, house windows, cars and sheds around the sports ground.

"Hitting the bowler for a six out is part of the glory of the sport. How can you ban it? It's ridiculous," a batsman was quoted by DailyMail UK as saying.

"To take that away removes the joy of it. I don't agree that the rules should be tinkered with in this fashion."

Another batsman 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 to expect a few cricket balls in your garden."

The Green ground, surrounded by residential homes, has short boundaries. Even though nets have been erected to stop the ball but their height is restricted due to trees nearby.