Why Is a Cricket Pitch 22 Yards Long? (Simple Answer)

Cricket sports is much developed today. You can’t compare its state at the moment with the position it was in the mid-17^th century. However, despite the changes, there are some rules and formations that haven’t changed since then. For instance, the cricket pitch is still 22 yards long as it was then, with few modifications for girls and women. But have you ever wondered why a cricket pitch is 22 yards long?

A cricket pitch is 22 yards long because it was measured using the chain unit of measurement. At that time, British standardization was somewhat limited since they did not prefer ropes. Instead, they used chains, which was the standard imperial measurement.

There’s a lot you need to know about cricket pitches. You can learn more on the subject by reading along with information on different types of cricket and how to build a concrete pitch.

Does a Pitch Matter In Cricket?

Cricket pitches do matter a lot in the overall flow of the game. While some cricket pitches favor batters, others favor seam bowlers and spin bowlers. However, the general standard for fielding should at least be fair for all the players.

You would have seen the real meaning of bowling injuries if you had played cricket on any open ground that is available as long as it is 22 yards. And that’s why one of many factors taken into consideration by a cricket board is the pitch. Let’s say some practice pitch somewhere is at substandard features, of course not meeting the International Crickets Council statuses’.

If such a pitch is the only pitch available for the match; the hosting team will always have the upper hand over the visiting team. As a result, a team may appeal their case about that.

In such cases, it doesn’t matter if the home team has already won the match. If the opposing team appeals on the nullification of the game and has enough evidence on the same. Then you may end up being fined or having your points deducted.

The mental and physical state of the players is of utmost importance, and anything threatening that including a poor pitch attracts deemed unfit for play attracts a penalty. So to avoid such matters that may adversely affect a team’s scores, it is better to have a pitch whose status meets all standards.

In addition, an irregular pitch will always affect the bounce of the ball. In regular pitches, however, batters can always predict the bounce of a ball, so this will work to the batter’s advantage. Thus they can timely hit it. 

Therefore, since almost all deliveries will bounce off the pitch when they reach the batters, the pitch type and state need to be evaluated regardless of whether it is for an international match or a regional game. 

In addition, players stand to get fines if found deliberately tampering with the pitch. It is also imperative to keep in mind that every stakeholder will be looking at the pitch during a cricket match. This is more evident in first-class and cricket test matches.

What Are The Different Types Of Cricket Pitches?

The different types of cricket pitches include the dead pitch, which is flat with no grass, and the green pitch, which has lots of grass. And Dusty pitch, usually soft and unrolled. These pitches, however, can differ from country to country. Therefore, you won’t find them all in one country.

Cricket pitches are categorical based on their surfaces and the presence or absence of grass on the floor. Such effects are bound to affect the bounce of the ball, so it won’t be advantageous for the bowlers while the batters on their end will have an even pitch to make run scores.

In addition, you ought to know almost every cricket pitch can either be batter friendly or bowler-friendly. A bowler-friendly pitch can have irregular grounds or curves that will always force the batters to return to the crease after every delivery. On the other hand, a batter-friendly pitch will help reduce a bowler’s intense techniques on the bowls because a good batter will always read through the bowls in such pitches.

Therefore, the categories of cricket pitches include:

Dead Pitch

It is a very flat pitch with no grass or moisture. The surface is ideal for batters with no assistance for bowlers.  As a result, such types of pitches leave bowlers with trouble after trouble when the batters make run scores. 

Such dead grounds are always the best for hosting T20 and ODI Matches. If such games tend to be very interesting, because of the impressive scores from the batters. The dead pitches of this type are most common in India.

Green Pitch

Green pitches favor bowlers who tend to show their high-class spin deliveries. Such cricket pitches are famous for lots of grass, turning out to be nightmares for the batters.  It’s because every other time the batters have to be keen on watching out for the unpredictable seaming bowl deliveries. 

Because of the lots of grass on green pitches, the ball’s ability to bounce is also somewhat unpredictable. However, the grass supports an eased swing for the ball. The green fields mostly cover the western part of the state. These countries include Australia, England, and South Africa.

Dusty Pitch

Dusty pitches are known for their soft and unrolled nature, making them more favorable for spin bowlers. However, the batters too can benefit from such grass because batting is more convenient than on green or dead pitches.

The batters can easily predict the ball’s bounce and time them from their wickets thus giving them head starts. However, spin bowlers with unique skills can outdo the batters here. 

How Do You Make a Concrete Cricket Pitch?

To make a concrete pitch you have to obtain the layout for your desired field, then excavate the top soft materials. You will then place your concrete on steel reinforcement. From then you should cure the surface for at least 10days in a hot climate and 14days in cold seasons.

Over the past few years, there have been positive developments in both replicating natural turf on concrete and synthetic turf. Such pitches play very essential roles in the maintenance of the cricket balls. They are the most embraced by most clubs because of their reduced constant care on cricket pitches.

In addition to being maintenance-free, pitches with concrete bases do not easily get damaged even when played on in rainy seasons.

Therefore, to make the concrete cricket pitches you will have to:

• Obtain a Pitch Layout

Concrete pitch layouts can vary depending on individual requirements. Nevertheless, if you visit legit professionals in this sector, you can ask them to show you a basic pitch plan. You can then have it customized to suit your needs.

• Site Preparation

Once you have your layout in order, the site preparation involves the essential activities for creating any concrete base. These activities include:

• Marking the plan area of your pitch.
• Excavate the surfacing mat to a depth of 100mm, and trim the excavated surface with scratch templates.
• Removal of soft and spongy soil that gets replaced with dry hardcore materials
• Rolling or tamping the surface to compact the excavation
• You will also fix the side supports for the intended slab around the perimeter. You should always ensure that the side forms are as deep as 95mm when performing this operation. You can use metal or timber forms, but planked hardwood is the best for this type of support. You have to check the gauge and ensure the ground is level with the peg supports you have used.
• The Concrete

Ensure that this stage is planned out in advance since there are several ways you can obtain the concrete. However, you must make sure the cement standard you use meets your country’s cement requirement for masonry works.

So you can:

Buy cement and all other aggregates, then mix them separately on-site with a concrete mixer. However, whether you hire or borrow the concrete mixer, the mixing can be somewhat demanding regarding effort and storage for the materials. 

• Placing the Concrete

Before you go ahead with this procedure, you have to ensure you have substantial steel reinforcement. However, you will have to do it in two stages;

You will place the concrete to a level that leaves 45mm off the outer surface and compact it. Then you’ll have another wire mesh reinforcement placed on the compacted concrete and position the remaining concrete to the top edges of support pegs level.

• Surface Finishing

The ideal surface for your cricket pitch should be a fine matt texture. However, if you decide to leave the concrete uncovered you should ensure it is not slippery when wet. To attain such a non-slippery surface, you will need to trowel the surface with steel trowels. 

But be sure the troweling should be after the surface has started to stiffen and is no longer bleeding. Furthermore, when troweling you should exert force on the trowel for an even fine matt finish.

• Curing

Curing helps the concrete surface to develop a desirable strength that will outdo the test of time. So in warm weather, you should damp cure the concrete for 10 days, while in cold weather, you should do it for 14 days.

• Apply the Synthetic Surface

When you decide on applying this playing surface, you will need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. That will give a seamless and long-lasting surface.

Which Cricket Pitch Is Best For Batting?

The best cricket pitches for batting include Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, Sydney Cricket Ground, Adelaide Oval, and the WACA Ground Perth. Others include Lord’s, SSC Colombo, and Brisbane Cricket Grounds among others.  

The more developments and customization enhanced in today’s cricket pitches are some of the reasons behind batters’ success in the pitch. For instance, England has always maintained holding test matches favoring batters at the Lord’s Cricket grounds. Additionally, the Antigua Recreation Ground can’t be left out either when it comes to a discussion of the best batting fields. 

Both the lord’s and Antigua Recreation Ground have hosted several test matches since 2002. South Africa too is never left out in such talks about beautiful batting fields. The African nation has also had several test matches on their grounds but for a while now, the fields have been their best location for their four-test cricket match series.

The two Ovals in London and Adelaide also favor batters hosting test matches out of 30 other venues in the world. The wet weather may have contributed to the fact that five of the six test matches played in Adelaide ended in draws, which was unexpected. Other amazing batting grounds that have hosted the test matches since 2002 are Headingly, Brisbane, Sydney, Edgbaston, Mohali, and Multan.

Which Cricket Pitch Is Best for Fast Bowlers?

The best cricket pitch for fast bowlers includes the Sabina Park in Jamaica, Basin Reserve in Wellington, and Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Other pitches in the list include Eden Park in Auckland, Kandy Supersport Park in Centurion, and the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Have you heard cricket fans complaining of cricket grounds in India being against fielding teams and the bowlers? The main reason behind this as said in the streets is always India’s flat decks that make the balls fail to change their paths after pitching. Nothing can be compared to such a situation for the players when you know you need to dismiss the opposition but are feeling helpless and failing every other counting minute.

However, as I stated, that’s the word from the streets so you can hear it anytime, but the truth is; despite the possible challenges on such pitches. Bowling is not as challenging as people have created it to be on these tracks instead, such tough pitches need lots of perseverance, with a little more planning.

The planning is dependent on the kind of ball in use. You should know that different kinds of balls have varying movements when new and when they have been in use before. For instance, the SG Test ball moves very differently from the Kookaburra. A new SG ball moves negligibly if well delivered. Since its swing in the air may not match the movement on a surface.

So unless you pitch a long bowl, short bowls will not move in the air.

On the other hand, when dealing with the Kookaburra, as a bowler you have to ensure you don’t use similar tactics such as those you used for the SG ball. Your goal should always be to release the ball properly to create a maximum movement for it in the air.

Apart from the pitch issue that can be negligible at times. Fast bowlers should always concentrate on how to handle old and new balls.