Call to ban kids using hard cricket balls. Why I support this ban...

Children may soon be banned from using cricket balls in public parks and at cricket grounds due to safety concerns that “someone will die.”

Earlier this week we shared of one school banning kids “hugging”, now that is a ban we are divided on. Today in the news a council wants to ban the use of hard cricket balls. This I 100% agree with.

Port Adelaide Enfield Council is considering the ban on all park users other than actual cricketers out of fear that passers-by might be injured and suggests that casual players should use tennis balls, Portside Messenger reports.

One councillor has even come out saying that the risk is so extreme that “someone will die.”

Councillor Mark Basham, the man who proposed the idea, has described his own plan as being a “nanny state” policy but said they were obliged to advise people of the dangers.

“… the culture I grew up in was you didn’t use a hard ball around people that weren’t expecting it,” he said.

“If you are an innocent passer-by who has every right to use that facility and a stray ball whacks you on the back of the skull, people sue the council.”

Enfield Ward councillor Carol Martin backed the push, saying flying cricket balls often hit non-cricketers.

“Someone will die. There will be a serious accident or a conflict between people … so there are serious issues,” she said.

However, the plan has been slammed by former cricketer KG Cunningham who claims people watching the Big Bash at Adelaide Oval were at greater risk of being injured.

“We’re just over-protective,” he said.

“What’s wrong with young people out there using a hard ball? Just put up signs saying ‘hard ball in use, beware’.”

Here’s what’s wrong

As a mum of boys I am used to cuts, scrapes and bruises. What I wasn’t used to was the nasty injury you can receive from a hard cricket ball.

Yes kids get hurt. Yes “freak” accidents happen. Yes kids need to play and get hurt. But I for one am all for banning the use of hard cricket balls.

They can do a LOT of damage, and sadly they CAN even kill.

*Graphic image below

sore lip

This was three years ago. He was one VERY lucky nine year old at the time. It bruised for days and was very swollen and sore. At the time his little brother was only three. Imagine the damage if that ball had of hit him instead!? Hence I banned the use of a hard cricket ball in our neighbourhood. Not worth the risk!

Call me a helicopter mum, but this was one very close call for us.

Share your comments below.

Image via Shutterstock

15 Comments

- - mom70876 said
  - 23 Nov 2016
    8:45 pm
I don’t agree with this. People have been using the real balls for many many years without incident.

- - mom113991 said
  - 17 May 2016
    11:21 pm
this is a great idea…

- - mom112217 said
  - 15 May 2016
    11:08 am
I would also support the ban for safety issues. A good idea for eveyone playing.

- - meedee said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    12:30 pm
I had never given this thought but after reading this I would say it is a good idea. The game can be played with a softer ball.

- - mom156049 said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    8:35 am
I agree – hard balls are not for children. I hate cricket balls – they scare me and kids hit anywhere without thinking

- - mom93821 said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    6:18 am
Most park cricket is played with tennis balls.

- - mum4107 said
  - 21 Apr 2016
    5:48 am
I totally support this ban. Hard cricket balls are not necessary for little kids to play with

- - damish70 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    11:20 pm
First thing that comes into my head is Phillip Hughes.Yes I would endorse this ban

- - rachelvk said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    9:48 pm
I don’t usually support this type of thing but in this case I do. There is no need for kids to be playing with hard cricket balls. It is something that can be introduced in a competitive competition.

- - Nas01 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    9:44 pm
I was hit in the head while playing cricket at secondary school and luckily it just missed my temple and didn’t do any major damage but geeze did it hurt. I’m all for banning them for kids.

- - mom81879 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    9:15 pm
I think this is a fantastic idea for when the kids are little and first learning to play. I’m an adult and the hard cricket balls intimidate me, they freak me out! They can do so much damage

- - june11 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    8:15 pm
A friend of ours was hit in the eye with a tennis ball which is very soft compared to a cricket ball. Her eye filled with blood resulting in her having to be admitted to hospital for a week. She had both eyes covered 24 hours a day apart from when treatment was being done because if you move one your other one moves too. She wasn’t allowed out of bed at all. She had to lay as still as possible, was spoon fed, only time she was propped up was to use a bed pan, she was sponged washed – she couldn’t have a bath or shower even with her eyes closed. She was told she was extremely lucky she stayed still as instructed or there was about a 95% chance that she would have been visually impaired, possibly even blind. Fortuantely she had eye tests only about 6 months before so they were able to compare the results. She only lost about 8 % of her sight in the eye. To this day she occasionally suffers discomfort in that eye. She was told had it been a cricket ball or a baseball she definitely would have been blinded; a head /skull / brain injury becuase of the extra weight and force of impact, or it could have been fatal.

- - mom90758 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    5:06 pm
I understand completely your concern! I support the ban too!!

- - mom160421 said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    3:36 pm
I think this is an excellent idea. Those cricket balls can do a lot of damage to bystanders and property.

- - BellaB said
  - 20 Apr 2016
    2:35 pm
Yeah, I agree. This is risky and other people have a right to use the park safely.