Cricket Pitch Markings & Size Guide

Having the correct cricket pitch markings and measurements is essential for any cricket pitch as it ensures a game can be played within the the Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) laws. The lines on a cricket pitch also allow umpires to make important decisions during matches, helping them determine if batters are outside their crease, and if bowlers are bowling legal deliveries.

This guide will show you the regulation sizes of a cricket pitch, and outline all the cricket pitch markings and measurements you need to make your pitch ready to play.

How long is a cricket pitch?

As per law 6.1 of the MCC laws of cricket the regulation length of a cricket wicket is a rectangular area of the ground 22 yards/20.12m/66ft in length and 3.33 yards/3.05m/10ft in width.

This changes for junior cricketers, who play on the following pitch sizes.

What cricket pitch markings do you need?

Wicket markings and dimensions

What are the lines on a cricket pitch?

Below we provide more information on each of the lines found on a cricket pitch:

Bowling Crease – The stumps will go in the middle of this line. This horizontal line should be 2.64m long and the distance between the bowling crease lines at either end of the wicket should be 20.12m (22 yards). The length of the wicket is the distance between the two bowling creases at either end.

Popping Crease – Marking this line will form what is known as the ‘batting crease’. Batters will ensure they are behind the popping crease to prevent being run-out or stumped. Bowlers must have some part of their landing foot behind the popping crease when delivering the ball. If they don't the umpire will signal a no-ball and the bowler will have to bowl an extra delivery and one run will be awarded to the batting side. The popping crease will be 3.66m long and marked parallel to the bowling crease. Laws of cricket state that the back edge of the batting crease shall be 1.22m from the base of the stumps.

Return Crease – These are the lines on both sides of the wicket, perpendicular to the popping crease. They run 2.44 meters to the end of the wicket. These lines stop bowlers from delivering the ball from too wide. If any part of the bowler’s back foot is touching the return crease when they deliver the ball, the umpire will signal a no-ball, which will result in the bowler having to bowl an extra delivery and one run being awarded to the batting side.

The Wide Guidelines – These are for limited over matches only and run vertically from the popping crease to the bowling crease. They are parallel to the return crease on each side of the wicket. The outside edge of the wide guideline will be marked 43.18cm from the inside edge of the return crease. If the bowler bowls the ball outside of these lines, then the umpire will signal a wide ball. The bowler will then have to bowl an extra delivery and one run will be awarded to the batting side.

The Protected Area Indicators – Indicators are marked either side of the wicket, parallel to the end of the popping creases 1.53m in front of each. The second set of protected area indicators are parallel to the return crease (one either side of the stumps). They are attached to the bowling crease with the outside edge of each indicator being 30.48cm from middle stump. The length of the indicators is 7.62cm. These indicators are necessary to protect the centre of the wicket from being stood on and scuffed up, which could lead to the bowling side gaining an unfair advantage.

Cricket stumps height and width

The regulation height of cricket stumps according to MCC Laws is 28 inches/71.12cm above the playing surface. Two sets of stumps are positioned opposite and parallel to each other in the centres of the bowling creases. The two bails will be positioned on the groves of the stumps. When in position, they should not project more than 0.5 inches/1.27cm above the stumps. One individual bail is 111.1mm/ 4.375 inches long.

How to mark out a cricket wicket and field

The Crease

Marking out creases can be done easily by using a cricket crease marker. Simply paint the profile of the frame for a sharp, professional crease using Aerosol Line Marking Spray Paint for a long lasting finish.

The 30-Yard Circle

The 30-yard circle is only used in limited over games with fielding restrictions, where the fielding side can only have a certain number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle.

To mark this out:

• Using a tape measure, measure 27.4m (23m for women’s matches) outwards from middle stump and make a dot using Aerosol Spray Paint or inner circle marker discs.
• Move the end of the tape 4.5m to the left or right and make another mark.
• Keep doing this until you have made a semi-circle at one end of the pitch.
• Repeat this for the other end.
• Join the semi circles up with straight lines parallel to the wicket.
• You should now have a 30-yard circle ready to use for your limited overs matches!

The Boundary

The sizes of boundaries vary from ground to ground depending on its size. The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) playing conditions state for international men’s cricket boundaries shall be no longer than 90 yards (82.29 metres) and no shorter than 65 yards (59.43 metres) from the centre of the wicket being used. The equivalent law for international women’s cricket require the boundary to be between 60 and 70 yards (54.86 and 64.01 metres) from the centre of the wicket being used. For recreational cricket, minimum and maximum boundary dimensions are typically defined in the specific competition playing conditions, which will be online or in a handbook. Boundaries can either be measured from the centre of the wicket or middle stump. This will depend on the competition rules. The three most common methods for marking boundaries are; white lines, boundary rope or flags.

Beyond The Boundary

The MCC law 19.1.2 states that no part of the sight-screens should be within the boundary. The ECB also recommend that a safety margin of three yards is maintained beyond the boundary. This safety zone should be clear of any injurious objects such as sight-screens, scoreboards and pavilions.

Now that you have all the relevant information about cricket pitches thanks to our cricket pitch markings and size guide you can now browse our full range of FORTRESS cricket ground equipment and find the items you need to get your club or school’s ground ready.

At Net World Sports, we pride ourselves on the quality of our FORTRESS cricket equipment range. We stock batting equipment in sizes suitable for both adults and juniors, as well as cricket balls, ground equipment, stumps, cages and training equipment.