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Relevant laws and guidance

The boundary of the field of play is defined in Law 19.  It is determined before the toss and fixed for the duration of the match.

Safety margins

Please note Law 19.1.2: ‘The boundary shall be determined such that no part of any sight-screen will, at any stage of the match, be within the field of play.’

In addition to the Laws of the Game, the ECB recommends that a safety margin of at least three yards (2.74 m) beyond the boundary should be maintained.  This safety zone should be clear of any hard or injurious material/object (for example seating, sight screens, advertising boards, fencing etc) or any significant change of slope or ground condition that could cause a player injury whilst they are fielding near to or beyond the boundary.

Setting this safety margin is really important because players can approach boundaries at a pace and body position that means that they need this safe zone to decelerate safely.  The safety margin should take precedence over boundary dimensions – it is better to have a shorter boundary than unsafe objects within the safety margin.

Boundary dimensions

Minimum and maximum boundary dimensions are normally defined in the competition playing conditions – so check your league handbook, ground regulations and/or website.

Dimensions for newly constructed grounds should be a boundary of 50 yards (45.72 m) plus the 3 yard (2.74 m ) safety margin.  In this case, this is measured from the middle stump of each pitch used for open-age cricket.

Where is the boundary measured from?

Check your playing regulations carefully as some regulations measure from the centre of the pitch, others from middle stump at each end.

Marking the boundary

See Law 19.2 and your competition playing conditions for requirements on how the boundary should be marked.

The three most common methods used for marking the boundary are:

Method

Pros

Cons

Rope

  • This is the traditional method.
  • The fielder will normally know when they have trodden on or touched the rope without looking.
  • The rope can be moved to adjust to different pitches and playing regulations from match day to match day.
  • Ropes will discolour when left out.
  • Ropes need to be moved to cut the outfield.
  • Shared use in public parks and multi-sport venues can mean that ropes have to be removed after a game.
  • They are one more item subject to vandalism and unauthorised movement/use.
  • Boundary ropes can be heavy and difficult to deploy with one operator.
  • Boundary ropes can be bulky to store – a winding reel can be beneficial to keep the rope from getting tangled and damaged.

White line

  • Provides a more definitive boundary than flags or markers alone.
  • Is semi-permanent over a weekend of fixtures.
  • Cannot be maliciously moved.
  • Avoids having to handle bulky ropes.
  • Avoids ropes deteriorating in colour or condition when left out.
  • Less flexible for ‘on the day’ adaptation.
  • Needs white line marker and paint (a consumable cost).
  • White lining equipment can be messy and needs regular maintenance.
  • Often boundaries will need to be overmarked week to week – particularly in rainy conditions.
  • In dry conditions, boundaries that need to be moved are not washed off, which can lead to confusing lines on the outfield.
  • Because the boundary is flat to the ground, fielders do not know they have touched it unless they are looking at it.  It can also be hard to see on sloping or undulating grounds and so additional marker flags or boards are required.

Flags or marker boards

  • Affordable, lower cost solution than ropes or white lines.
  • Allows for quick, flexible boundary setting – commonly used with junior fixtures on smaller boundaries.
  • Can be easily positioned by one player or coach.
  • Fielders need to interpolate the boundary (as a straight line) between two markers which can lead to confusion/disputes.
  • A fielder that is not looking at the markers will not know if they have crossed the boundary.
  • Not compliant with playing conditions/regulations in many open age cricket leagues/competitions (for the above reasons).
  • Markers need to be designed so as not to cause injury.
  • Markers can become damaged and should be replaced so as not to cause injury.

Tips if you are using a rope:

  • Cricket Boundary Ropes are typically available in 4 diameters (20mm, 24mm, 28mm & 32mm). Larger diameters are more visible and stronger but are also heavier and need more storage room.
  • It is common to use two ropes and have two overlap points to make movement and storage easier.
  • Better-quality rope is made from tough, durable, ‘rot free’ and UV stabilised 3-strand white polypropylene rope.  This type is the most durable when left out in all weathers.  There are cheaper types of rope available, but a lower quality rope will rot and discolour quickly.  A boundary rope is an investment, always consider all the different options that are available.
  • Try to align one of the overlaps near to the grounds machinery access that can be lifted to allow the roller to the square.

Tips if you are using a painted white line:

  • Always use proprietary line marking paints.
  • Do not mix in herbicide or plant growth regulator when painting lines:
    • It is often illegal to mix plant protection products for this reason.
    • You do not want to permanently mark a boundary by killing or slowing grass growth because you will need to move the boundary when you change pitches.
  • Always clean your boundary marking machine and maintain in good working order as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Always store paint and clean up any spills in line with the paint manufacturer’s instructions.
  • It is often necessary to use markers such as flags placed at the back of the boundary (outside edge) to help players and umpires to locate the boundary.

Tips if you are using flags/markers:

  • Do not let the gaps between flags / markers get too big – aim for one every 10 metres approx.
  • Always replace any damaged markers or markers with sharp parts that could cause puncture injuries.