|
Test cricket has been in existence since March 1877
i.e. a good 100 years and more. And even whatever
level of the game before that, was played on a
rectangular piece of turf (sometimes on matting or
astro-turf) which is located in the center of the
ground. Since then, practically all laws of the
game have undergone various changes. So many laws
have been modified, words deleted or added,
innovations included etc. But only one law i.e. The
Pitch (law no 7 of the present MCC code) has
remained the same.
The distance between the two sets of stumps (called
as wickets) has remained unchanged i.e. 66 feet.
The width is measured 5 feet on either side of the
middle stump. Thus the sacred area is 66 feet by 10
feet. The size of the wickets has also changed. The
wickets as defined today are three wooden stumps
each of 28 inches in height from the ground with
two wooden bails placed at the top. The width is 9
inches (law no 8) and each bail shall be 4 5/16"
and ½ "above the stumps.
Then there are three areas marked viz the popping
crease, the bowling crease and the return crease
with its foreword extension. The bowling crease
runs through the stumps 4 feet 4 inches on either
side of the middle stump. The popping crease is
marked at a distance of 4 feet from the center of
the middle stump down the pitch. The return creases
are marked 4 feet behind the bowling crease on both
side and its foreword extension joining the popping
crease. The popping crease is required to be at
least 6 feet on either side of the middle stump.
Presently, in all 1st class matches, it is marked
15 yards on either side. Another important
ingredient is the imaginary "Danger Area". It
begins from 5 ft in front of the popping creases on
either side with a width of 2 ft. (One foot on
either side of the middle stump). Thus the total
dimension of the so called "Danger Area" is 48 ft
in length and 2ft in breadth. This area is to be
protected from damage throughout the match. The
umpires remain very strict and the players also are
very careful, because this is where most of the
balls are likely to be pitched. A bowler can be
stopped from bowling in that innings if he cannot
control the damage he could cause in his follow
through. On his part a batsman running between the
wickets can be penalized by canceling the runs
attempted. No fielder is allowed to stand on the
cut portion of the pitch while fielding. No ball is
called in such case.
Whenever a side arrives, they all first go to see
the pitch, although on match days it is only the
captain or manager who is permitted. The original
preparation of the pitch is done by the ground
authorities. Thereafter the maintenance devolves
upon the umpires. The grass on the pitch is mowed
everyday to maintain the same nature throughout the
match. In Test matches even the outfield is mowed
daily. But no watering is permitted at any time.
The batting side captain has the right to choose a
roller i.e. heavy, medium, or light. Once at
Brisbane in the 1950-51 Test match the England
captain desired the heavy roller which was horse
drawn. Although by Law the actual rolling should
not exceed 7 minutes, here it took almost 22
minutes as the horses had to be unbuckled to
reverse the direction every time. It was with a
help of the stop watch that 7 minutes were counted.
I remember David Gower telling me that he only
wanted the light roller go down in the center and
that too just twice. At times, captains can refuse
any rolling at all. Nevertheless the pitch remains
the most important feature of a cricket match. |