LONDON, April 27: An English cricket club has banned its players from hitting sixes to avoid complaints from the neighbours, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

Harrogate Cricket Club in Yorkshire, northern England, has told players they will automatically be given out if they loft the ball towards the surrounding houses and over the boundary.

The ground’s owner, Harrogate Borough Council, has decided that the rule should be imposed on the club’s second pitch, which is used by the club’s third, fourth and junior teams.

A council report said the decision had been taken to strike a balance with residents in the wealthy spa town.

Harrogate Cricket Club chairman Mike Rawlings said the ruling had not infuriated batsmen – and few of them could hit a six anyway.

“As long as everyone knows the rules at the start of the game then you just play to those rules,” he said.

“Most of the neighbours are very supportive of the club, but we have the odd person who complains.

“Most of them just throw the balls straight back, but some of the residents, the ones who have concerns, keep them.”—AFP