Plan to ban hard cricket balls in Port Adelaide Enfield parks hosed down by mayor

AS a national storm continues to rage over an Adelaide council plan to ban hard cricket balls in public parks, its mayor has moved to hose down concerns.

Brody Mair, 11, in the nets of Largs Bay Reserve — with a hard cricket ball. Picture: Matt Turner

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AS a national storm continues to rage over a Port Adelaide Enfield Council plan to ban hard cricket balls in public parks, Mayor Gary Johanson has moved to hose down concerns.

Mr Johanson told The Advertiser that while the council would still consider banning hard balls in busy parks, there was little chance it would be rolled out.

“It would be highly unlikely we would ever follow through on a ban on cricket balls because it would be almost impossible to police,” Mr Johanson said.

Cr Mark Basham’s proposal last week called for casual players to be banned from using cricket balls at any park, including cricket nets, in the district, unless they had a prior booking.

The story went global and featured on national news programs, including The Project, as well as international news websites.

Retired Australian Test star Ryan Harris, who grew up in Adelaide’s north, also slammed the proposal in The Advertiser.

Online betting agency Sportsbet also distributed a mock press release to media outlets offering odds of $1.75 on the ban being scrapped, with odds of $2 the ban would receive the green light.

The council issued a response to the story on its website saying there had been no decision to ban “hard cricket balls” and the proposal was still being reviewed.

Cr Basham did not return calls from the The Advertiser last week.

The idea of a ball ban was also criticised by members of the State Government, including Lee MP and Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan, whose seat takes in much of the Port Adelaide Enfield district.

“No wonder suburban cricket clubs are struggling for players with rubbish like this,” Mr Mullighan wrote on social media.

An advertiser.com.au poll showed almost 92 per cent of the more than 1000 respondents opposed the idea.

Readers labelled it as political correctness gone mad.

“By their logic we should ban crowds at T20 matches as increased chance of being hit by a hard ball,” Stuart wrote in an online comment.

Reader Maxine commented people should be made to wear helmets when they step outside, which would also protect against “maggies”. Dean asked: “How many 11-year-olds know how to book the nets?”