Big Bash League: Cricket sees first ever roof six

NEW DELHI: Something very unusual occurred on the cricket field on Friday. It was a Big Bash League (BBL) game between the Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium that has an enclosed stadium roof. Scorchers batsman Ashton Turner smashed the opposition bowler Dan Christian high and handsome in the 12th over of their innings. The ball hit the roof of the stadium and crashed down vertically on the turf near the square leg region – just outside the 30-yard circle.
And it was signalled 'six'.
If the crowd at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium was confused, no less baffled were commentators Shane Warne and Brett Lee, as they couldn't help but question the call of the batsman being awarded six runs for hitting the roof.
The Marvel Stadium is Australia's only major cricket venue to have a roof and one of the few around the world. It takes less than 10 minutes to fully open or close and stands 38 metres above the turf.
Although covered stadiums do come with the insurance of matches not being compromised due to climatic interventions, the fact that a mis-hit could go on to be termed as a maximum possibly needs a rethink.
"I think it's a pretty bad rule," Turner said after the match. "It saved me tonight ... I think it's not fair."
What was fair, perhaps, was Christian getting Turner out the very next ball. The Renegades won by four wickets.