Login
Cricket, a game, rich with history and specific measurements, is played within a playing area subject to strict regulations. Cricket pitch, the central strip is considered as one of the most crucial aspect of the game, where the action of the game takes place for the most part.
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) laid down Laws of Cricket, according to which the standard length of a cricket pitch must be 22 yards (20.12 meters or 66 feet). This is the distance between one stumps placed and the next. The width of the pitch is 10 feet (3.05 meters).
These elements remain the same to this day since the 18 century and are the root of the sport in all formats such as Test cricket, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 (T20) cricket.
Historically, the origin of the 22-yard pitch dates to the early history of cricket in England. This was, according to tradition, taken from Gunter's chain, a 66-foot (22-yard) surveying tool used by land surveyors during the 17th century. Edmund Bligh, took this measurement because it was handy and recognizable.
Practically, 22 yards strip play same role for ball and bat. Any shorter a pitch would be bowler-friendly, with batters having minimal reaction time, and any longer one would swing in the favor of batters. The length gives bowlers sufficient room to generate pace, swing, or spin while giving batters a fair chance to receive deliveries.
Although, first-class and international cricket, the pitch length is maintained rigidly at 22 yards for consistency while the width may vary in more relaxed games, variations are made for junior or recreational games:
Junior Cricket: Younger players use shorter pitches (e.g., 16-18 yards) based on their bodily strengths.
Indoor Cricket: Due to constrained space, the pitch is shorter (around 18-20 yards) on artificial grounds.
Backyard/Street Cricket: Pitches with random lengths are employed based on the available space for playing.
The consistent 22-yard length affects tactics for bowlers and batsmen both:
Bowling: Fast bowlers rely on the length to build up speed and achieve optimal bounce. Australia's Mitchell Starc, for example, uses the 22 yards to produce late swing at 90+ mph. Spinners like India's Ravichandran Ashwin use the length to produce sharp turn, as the ball grips along a longer trajectory.
Batting: Fast reflexes and precise footwork are needed for judging the pitch length. Players like Virat Kohli train themselves to judge lengths in milliseconds, adapting to bowlers' pace. Time is also given in a 22-yard pitch to play strong shots and requires caution against tricky deliveries.
The 22-yard pitch length of cricket is historical and perfected by utility. It is equilibrated competition between bowlers and batsmen so that neither has a dominant edge. Although conditions on pitches vary globally, the length is not changed in professional versions to preserve cricket's eternal beauty. Whether it was Shane Warne's "Ball of the Century" or Sachin Tendulkar's square drives, the 22-yard strip has been the witness to cricket's most iconic moments—a testament to its timeless perfection.
