How much does the pitch matter in cricket?

Although we often see the same 10 countries play most of the international cricket, it is a sport that is played professionally in over 100 countries. Frequently called the ‘Gentleman’s Game’, Cricket is very a very technical sport. Cricket also has one of the largest playing fields in all of the team sports, however, most of the action happens on the 22 yard piece of land that is called the pitch. Runs are scored when the batsman hits the ball sweetly and wickets are taken when bowlers bowl an unplayable delivery. Common factor in both being the pitch, how much does the pitch matter in scoring runs, taking wickets and in the outcome of the match?

A cricket pitch is made by digging a patch in the centre of the ground and filling it up with layers of stone and gravel with a proper drainage system. The pitch is covered by clay or soil, sand, and grass on top. The amount of each element in the making of the pitch and the way the pitch is prepared can determine the type of the pitch. For example, a pitch with more and compact clay will be firm and bouncy, a pitch with more sand will be slower and degrade easily.

There are typically three types of pitches.

Hard/flat

This pitch has little to no grass cover or moisture. This offers good pace and bounce, and fast bowlers tend to prefer this type of pitch. However, there is very littler assistance to bowlers, and it tends to be very batsman friendly.

Green/Grassy

This type of pitch has more grass cover on the top. Grassy/green pitches offer more lateral movement of the ball and unpredictable bounce since, the ball can skid off the surface. Overall, an excellent pitch for pace and swing bowlers.

Dry/Dusty

This is generally a softer pitch resulting in a slower pace. This type of pitch also provides variable bounce and ball can stay low. Dry/dusty pitch is preferable for spin ballers since it offers more turn.

Although, slight alterations in preparing the pitch can determine its characteristics, soil, as we know, from every part of the world differs from one another. Therefore, pitches from a specific part of the world tend to maintain its specific qualities. Cricket pitches in Australia tend to be flatter, English pitches have moisture and are grassy, and pitches from Indian Subcontinent tend to be dry and dusty. These characteristics of the pitches also come into play when a team is selected for the match. There are players with their abilities that suit certain playing conditions and teams might prefer an extra bowler or a batsman depending on whom the pitch is more advantageous.

Another thing to consider is that cricket has three formats of the game, each format will provide more exciting play if the pitch has right characteristics. Hard/ flat pitch with no moisture or grass will be more suitable for batsman so, it might produce one sided test matches but exciting high scoring One day or T20 matches. A green pitch is preferred in test matches as it provides an edge to bowlers at the start, then to batsman when it turns drier and can produce nervy ends to test matches when the pitch is slower at the later stage of the match.

This change in the pitch characteristics often occurs in test matches that are played over 5 days and sometimes in one day matches because of the heat or dew conditions. A hard/flat pitch develops cracks on the surface providing unpredictable turn of the ball, green/grassy pitch loses its moisture and grass, and becomes more slower, dry and dusty pitch when the soil becomes loose provides an edge to spin bowlers producing nervy finishes. And since most of the action in a cricket match happens on the pitch, the continuous movement of the bowlers and batsman on the pitch also results in change in the pitch conditions.

Cricket pitches, like mentioned before need to be prepared for the match. This was traditionally done on the playing ground itself by building a drainage system and covering it with layers of stone, sand and clay. However, there is also the case of modern ‘drop in’ pitches, that are prepared off the premises of the cricket ground and then transported at the time of the match. These pitches are prepared in a structure similar to a cake tin. Drop in pitches are common in Australia since, the cricket grounds are a host to sports other than cricket. So, when the cricket season ends these pitches are lifted off the grounds and transported back in at the start of the next season. Although, this is very convenient for the maintenance of the ground and the pitch, but since the pitch itself is a different piece of land to the rest of the ground, it might not age as the pitch that is prepared on the same ground. This lack of change in the playing surface can result in very dull and uneven contest. Pitches that offer lack of change over the period of the match are called as ‘Dead Pitches’. Dead pitches can also be case in traditional pitches if not prepared properly.

So, a well curated pitch can produce exciting matches but a bad one, and it will be a dull contest. Subsequently, the International Cricket Council has a set of rules that are to be followed when it comes to preparing and maintaining a cricket pitch. Not only that but ICC also gives out ratings for every international pitch to maintain the quality and during the match even the umpires have the authority to penalise whoever is trying to alter the conditions of the pitch and taking advantage of the conditions.

To conclude, the characteristics of the pitch adds an exciting and challenging dynamic to cricket. Both bowlers and batsman therefore, need to read the pitch conditions and use specific tactics to get to winning ways. The change in conditions, use of tactics and swinging of balance in the favour of both batsman and bowlers over the time makes cricket ever so technical but at the same time exciting to watch.

 

Picture credits - 

The Ultimate Cricketer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srFph9oFYiA

Optus Stadium - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cBO-d8OPhE