US researchers looking at the number of home runs in baseball- broadly equivalent to a six in cricket, have found that for every degree rise in temperature there are 2 per cent more home runs. The theory is that warmer air provides less resistance to the ball which hence goes further when hit.
Atmospheric conditions are a well known influence on bowling in cricket but this is the first time batting has come under scrutiny.
The US researchers are not familiar with cricket and there may well be other factors influencing an increase in sixes. These include heavier bats, shorter boundaries, innovative batting and the hot air produced by commentators shouting about sixes
Report in The Times 8th April
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