LONDON: One of the world’s oldest cricket clubs has taken a page out of the street cricket playbook in a twist that would make gully cricket enthusiasts nostalgic. According to a recent report in The Guardian, Southwick and Shoreham Cricket Club in West Sussex has banned players from hitting sixes, reminiscent of the “compound wall is the boundary” rule many Indian kids grow up with.
Founded in 1790, this venerable club near Brighton now faces an unusual predicament. Neighbours have complained about cricket balls damaging their windows, cars, and sheds. The solution? A ban on the game’s highest-scoring shot.
It’s not quite “one tip, one hand”, but it’s close. The Guardian reports that under the new rules, the first six a batter hits won’t count for any runs. Hit a second one, and you’re out. It’s a far cry from the usual scenes of jubilation when a batsman clears the rope in professional cricket.
“Hitting the bowler for a six is part of the glory of the sport,” one disgruntled player told MailOnline, as quoted in The Guardian. “How can you ban it? It’s ridiculous. To take that away removes the joy of it.”
But for the club’s neighbours, it’s a different story. Mary Gill, an 80-year-old resident whose family has lived near the ground for generations, shared her perspective with British newspaper: “It’s a very small ground and can’t accommodate the testosterone-fueled young men who come along and just want to hit the ball as far as they can.”
The situation highlights the growing challenges faced by cricket clubs, especially those in residential areas. Insurance costs and potential legal actions have become significant concerns. “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,” another player pointed out to The Guardian.
This isn’t the first time cricket clubs have come up with quirky local rules. The Guardian’s report mentions that the St Lawrence ground in Canterbury once had a tree inside the boundary worth four runs if hit, while Lancing Manor has two trees behind the bowler’s arm that are worth two runs.
For now, the batsmen at Southwick and Shoreham will have to channel their inner gully cricket skills, focusing on placement rather than power. It’s almost like being back in the narrow lanes of our childhood, where creativity often trumped brute force.
Agencies

Agencies