Cricket Measurements

First standardized in 1787, the laws of cricket drawn up by the Marylebone Cricket Club in London govern the sport worldwide. The laws apply to all aspects of the sport and include detailed information relating to the measurements of the pitch as well as the bat and ball.

  1. Bat and Ball

    • A new ball must have a circumference of between 8 13/16 inches (22.4 cm) and 9 inches (22.9 cm). It must weigh at least 5 1/2 ounces (155.9 g), but no more than 5 3/4 ounces (163 g). The wooden bat can be no more than 38 inches (96.5 cm) long and 4.25 inches (10.8 cm) wide.

    Pitch

    • The pitch stands roughly central in the cricket field and is where most of the play takes place. The rectangular area is 22 yards (20.12 m) long and 10 feet (3.05 m) wide.

    Wickets

    • The wickets consist of three cylindrical wooden sticks, known as stumps, on top of which are balanced two small wooden bails. The wickets are pushed into the ground at either end of the pitch, with the middle stump lined up with an imaginary line running down the center of the pitch. When in the ground, the top of the stumps must stand 28 inches (71.1 cm) above the playing surface. The diameter of each stump should measure between 1 3/8 inches (3.49 cm) and 1 1/2 inches (3.81 cm). Each of the short bails should measure 4 5/16 inches (10.95 cm) in length.

    Creases

    • Each end of the pitch is also marked by three separate creases, which indicate the area in which a batsman can play and also the area from which a bowler must deliver the ball. The bowling crease is the back end of the crease, and is a line measuring 8 feet, 8 inches in length (2.64 m),which runs through the line of the wicket, with the wicket in the center. The popping crease is 4 feet (1.22 m) in front of, and parallel with, the bowling crease. The two return creases stand at right angles to the bowling and popping creases, 4 feet, 4 inches (1.32 m) either side of the imaginary line joining the middle stumps of the two wickets.