Commentators at the second cricket test at Edgbaston (you know, near Baston) could hardly contain themselves after the English batsmen hit 10 sixes on the opening day. This was in part the result of outstanding batting but was also due to the use of closer boundaries. I assume this has come about for player safety and security reasons but I think administrators should note the increased excitement levels produced.
The crowd love a six, and moving the boundaries in a little gives the batsmen more incentive to hit the ball in the air. This much increases the appeal of the game; have no doubt. The purists will resist a permanent change because it will make statistical comparisons between today’s players and previous generations difficult. Statistics are one of the games joys but because the game now faces such competition for spectators and sponsors, I think it’s a sacrifice worth making.
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