Cricket was initially invented in England in the 16th century, and it became a national sport in the 18th century. Later in the 19th century, other countries also joined this sport, and now it is the second-most followed sport worldwide after soccer. Unlike other sports, there are many circumstances which are required for the smooth operation of the cricket match.
It may be related to equipment, match officials, weather, or other factors, but one important factor for a cricket match is the pitch. It is probably the most important aspect of this sport. It is the area where the whole action takes place. However, the pitch can vary from place to place, and to learn about it more, we will talk about the cricket pitch length, dimensions, and measurements in this article.
What is Cricket Pitch?
The cricket pitch is known to be the center or cricket field between the wickets or stumps on either side. It is generally 22 yards (20.12 meters) long and 10 feet (3.05 meters) wide. The surface can be flat with a cover of very small grass, or it can be no grass and completely dry. During the game, no alteration can be made with the pitch, and the nature of the pitch changes itself as the game goes on.
Measurement and Dimensions of Cricket Pitch
From one stump to another, the official dimension of a cricket pitch should be 22 yards (20.12 meters or 66.01 feet). There is also a 1.22-metre area allotted behind the stumps known as the bowler’s approaching area or return crease. The width of a cricket pitch is 10 feet (3.05 meters or 10 feet). This surface is the area where a bowler bowls his balls. Hence, the area where most of the action takes place—those 22 yards—is known as the cricket pitch.
Dimension measured | Size in Meters | Size in Feet | Size in Yards | Size in Steps |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cricket pitch length from wicket to wicket | 20.12 | 66 | 20.12 | 26 |
Distance between the creases on a cricket pitch | 17.68 | 58 | 22 | 23 |
Length from edge to edge. | 22.56 | 74 | 24.6 | 29 |
Size of cricket field used in the game | 3.05 | 10 | 3.33 | 4 |
Total length of the cricket pitch | 3.66 | 12 | 4 | 4.75 |
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Different Areas on Cricket Pitch
Bowling Crease: The bowling crease is the area in a game of cricket where the stumps are set. The boundary that marks the beginning of the cricket pitch on which the match will take place is aligned perpendicularly with the entire length of the playing area.
Popping Crease: The area which is in between the two parallel lines where a bowler land is known as the popping crease. It is also known as the safe zone for the batsmen, and overstepping the line cost the team a no-ball.