High Court judge baffled by cricket scoring

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-29742797

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A High Court judge presiding over a planning battle involving a cricket ground demonstrated a lack of knowledge of the sport by asking: "What are sixes and fours?"

Mrs Justice Beverley Lang was hearing a challenge to a plan to extend a former forge beside a Hampshire cricket pitch.

She asked the question when she was told that balls crossed the boundary line at East Meon's cricket ground.

A lawyer at the hearing explained the rules of the game to the baffled judge.

East Meon Forge and Cricket Ground Protection Association is challenging East Hampshire District Council's decision to grant planning permission for an extension with a residential first floor over the single-storey former blacksmith's workshop.

Robert Fookes, appearing for the association, told Mrs Justice Lang that one of the grounds of objection to the development was that the forge was very close to the cricket square and "sixes and fours are frequently hit by batsmen on to forge land, including the roof of the building itself".

The judge said: "I don't play cricket - what does that mean?"

Mr Fookes explained that sixes are scored in cricket when the ball is hit over the boundary without hitting the ground, while fours "bounced along the ground" before crossing the boundary line.