Six and outrage at cricket ruling

[pies4ever]

Six and outrage at cricket ruling
Kate Uebergang
27oct04

PUBLIC safety fears have stumped one of cricket's greatest feats: the six.

Amateur cricketers at two eastern suburban grounds will be penalised for hitting a six under a Boroondara Council rule.
The risk of cricket balls hitting bystanders and the likelihood of lawsuits have prompted the change, which is being adopted by more than 100 Eastern Cricket Association teams.

The dead ball rule is to stop cricketers hitting sixes over certain boundaries at Canterbury Sports Ground and Dorothy Laver Reserve East, Glen Iris.

Cricketers will not receive any runs and the ball will not be re-bowled.

Eastern Cricket Association secretary manager Rod Patterson said the rule was a necessary change to prevent injuries and lawsuits.

"Unfortunately, in this day and age we have a litigious society and council is concerned they may get sued if they allow cricket balls to come out of the park," Mr Patterson said.

"We're also concerned."

Mr Patterson said there had been some surprise from clubs when told about the new rule.

"We've explained to our clubs why we're doing this. Our clubs have accepted that," he said.

Boroondara city works director John Nevins said while the council was not aware of any cricket ball injuries to date, there had been near misses.

"A resident wrote to us during last cricket season saying they'd been walking with their baby along the street of the southern boundary of the Canterbury Sports Ground, when a cricket ball landed near the pram."

Mr Nevins said a study of Boroondara's 60-odd grounds found only two high-risk grounds.

He said he could only speculate about the financial consequences of a lawsuit after an injury.

"Cricket is a really significant community activity here in Boroondara," Mr Nevins said.

"Nobody wants anybody to be hurt. We know there is a risk. As a responsible council we need to act appropriately."


http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,11197694^2862,00.html

[tazza2000]

I couldn't believe it when I first read about it.

I understand the risks involved with kids hitting Sixes all over the place, but, gee, without the six, It's just not cricket.

There must be a happy medium, not just flat-out banning one of the most integral parts of the game today.

[favourites 2008]

Rediculus springs to mind.......im sure they've been playin cricket longer than those houses were there.

[Dale61]

Imagine the bowling figures:

1-1-0-0
*Footnote: The batsman hit six 6's over the 'banned' boundary, but due to council regulations, these were deemed as dead balls, and thus, no score given.

[Culprit]

Not living far from this ground I can tell you it's all about 3 households of people that have moved into that street. They want cricket banned all together and all other forms of sport which they say affects their lifestyle. The six ban is a cop out to appease people who move into certain areas (i.e.: next to a pub) and start complaining. These people want the land sold off so it can be redevelopment and increase their property values ten fold. There is more to meet the eye in this case as I know 3 councillors and the Mayor of the mentioned council.

[Dale61]

Sounds like the same sort of people that buy a cheap house because it's located under the approach to an airport, then want the flight path moved because the planes are too loud.

Yet again, it looks like a local council has bowed to a minority group.

[Johnson#26]

I think this is stupid. A 6 is part of cricket. When you are growing up, you dream of hitting sixes for Australia! Why ban it? The poeple who don't like will just have to live with it, as it can't really be stoipped.