Watch: ‘Baffling’ BBL rule lambasted after umpire signals 6 to ball hitting stadium roof

A controversial Big Bash League (BBL) rule came under the spotlight during Saturday’s Melbourne derby when two batsmen were each awarded six runs after hitting the roof when they could have been out caught instead.

In the match against Melbourne Renegades, opener Joe Clarke miscued the delivery which went straight up and hit the roof of the Etihad Stadium in the third over of their chase. The ball landed within the 30-yard circle, but was signaled 6 runs by the umpire. 12 overs later, Beau Webster, emulated the same, but in a rather lucky escape as he top-edged the ball. Melbourne Stars were once again handed 6 runs.

Watch: Umpire signal six after ball hits roof in BBL Match

According to the updated BBL Laws, section 19.7.1 of the “Stadium Roof” subsection, “If the ball having been struck by the bat hits any part of the stadium roof structure, retractable or fixed, a Boundary 6 will be scored.”

Over the years, there’s been on-and-off debate over the regulations surrounding roof hits. Playing against an ICC XI during the Super Series in 2005, Australia’s Mike Hussey famously hit the roof, but the ball was deemed dead. The same continued when the BBL began in 2011.

In 2012, Aaron Finch’s “six” was was called dead as well, which led to Cricket Australia modifying the rules – if the roof is open, a ball that hits any part of the stadium was deemed a six; if it was closed, any ball that hit the retractable part was ruled a dead ball. Since then, the regulations have been simplified further, with any hit to the roof now deemed a six.

‘Raise the roof’: BBL players fume over ‘bizarre’ rule

Renegades bowler Will Sutherland, who conceded the first ‘six’, told cricket.com.au that the rule should be scrapped.

“Definitely can it after they had two go their way. I let out a few expletives,” he said.
“It was even for both sides but I’d like to think it would be a dead ball going forward.”

The rule initially considered only the fixed beams of the roof and not the retractable sections. Which Renegades skipper Aaron Finch said was “hard to police”, before it was changed to include the whole roof.

“You’ve got these beams that hang over, they’re already over the boundary so if it hits that you should get six. If you hit it straight up and get six – honestly, I don’t know,” he said.

Stars skipper Adam Zampa said the rule was “bizarre”.

“As a bowler you expect to deceive a batsman and at least be in with a chance of getting a wicket,” Zampa said.
“Maybe build the roof a bit higher.”

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