All Surrey junior leagues adopt recommendations for 2019
ECB has now released its recommended pitch lengths for junior boys and girls cricket after significant research and consultation and organisations across Surrey are now rolling out these new pitch lengths in 2019.
The changes focus on efforts to make the game more inclusive and exciting for young players with research showing that that short pitch lengths lead to more positive experience for all involved. This includes less extras, more balls being in areas where batters can hit them, more boundaries being scored and runs being scored all around the ground.
Following discussions with all junior leagues in Surrey it has been agreed that the new pitch lengths will be adopted in 2019 wherever possible. If you have any specific questions or queries regarding the pitch lengths to be used in a particular league please contact them as a first port of call.
Surrey Schools Cricket Association and the Women and Girls competitions have also committed to making the changes in 2019 to try and ensure that as much continuity as possible is delivered during the transition period.
The new pitch lengths for junior cricket:
Age Group | Boys | Girls |
Under 9 | 15 Yards / 17 Yards* | 15 yards |
Under 10 | 17 Yards | 17 Yards |
Under 11 | 17 Yards | 17 Yards |
Under 12 | 18 Yards | 18 Yards |
Under 13 | 19 Yards | 19 Yards |
Under 14 | 21 Yards | 20 Yards |
Under 15 | 22 Yards | 20 Yards |
Under 17 | 22 Yards | 22 Yards |
*Please note that U9 hardball cricket will take place on 17 Yard pitches, with all softball on 15 Yards.
Participation Manager, Simon Hards said, 'It is great to see all of the organisations responsible for junior cricket embrace these changes, which are designed to enhance the game for young people. We understand there will be some challenges over the course of the coming season and we encourage you to work with your competition organisers to manage any of these as we seek a pragmatic approach in 2019. We certainly do not want games of cricket not played due to issues with the correct pitch length being available and would rather see games played on longer pitches if the other alternative was not game is played.'
ECB will be releasing frequently asked questions and guidance for grounds people in due course and we will be sure to release this information as widely as possible to the network.