With the balance of power between bat and ball always a hot topic for debate, the ground size for T20 cricket often comes into question.
The ground size and dimensions in cricket though is uniform across all formats of the game. The size of each ground is especially significant for teams when it comes to formulating their strategies before a game.
Players are sometimes selected based on the venue size. They are also asked to bowl from specific ends, accounting for the distance to the boundary, with the aim of making it as difficult as possible for batsmen to score.
What is the cricket ground size in T20?
According to the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) playing conditions guidelines, the size of a cricket ground for men’s T20 cricket is determined by the length of the boundary. The maximum limit for the boundary is 90 yards (82.29 metres) while the minimum limit is 65 yards (59.43 metres) from the center of the pitch. The intent is to maximise the size of the playing area at each venue.
What is the cricket ground size for women in T20?
As per the ICC playing conditions, for women’s T20 cricket, the maximum limit for the boundary is 70 yards (64 metres) while the minimum limit is 60 yards (54.86 metres) from the center of the pitch.
However, it’s worth noting that any ground not fulfilling ICC’s minimum boundary condition but previously approved to host international cricket shall not be debarred from hosting matches. In such a scenario, the boundary shall be positioned so as to maximize the size of the playing area.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia has the largest square boundary, measuring 86.23m. In India, Kolkata’s Eden Gardens has the largest square boundary at 66.26m.
The Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia has been recorded to have the largest straight boundary size at 93.72m. In India, Kolkata’s Eden Gardens takes the honours again at 76.23m.
Eden Park in New Zealand has the record for the shortest straight boundary size at 55m. The Wanderers in Johannesburg, South Africa has the shortest square boundary at 64m.
In India, the Arun Jaitley Stadium - formerly known as the Feroz Shah Kotla - in Delhi has the shortest straight and square boundaries. The straight boundary at the ground is 60m, while the square boundary measures 56m.
Featured photo: Saeed Khan / AFP
