The summer of cricket is here! Get your family and friends ready for the ultimate backyard cricket game! In this blog, we run through a few tips on how to make your own backyard cricket pitch.
Skip to:
- How to make a backyard cricket pitch
- Where should I create my backyard cricket pitch?
- How do I mow in a cricket pitch?
- What is the best way to set up stumps for a backyard cricket pitch?
How to Make a Backyard Cricket Pitch
Preparing a pitch is best done in spring or summer when your grass is actively growing. It is best to avoid mowing low in winter when the turf isn’t actively growing. A pitch is best made on couch varieties, like TifTuf where it can be mown low and will still recover when they are actively growing. Kikuyu and buffalo are also good options. However, on buffalo don’t mow too low as it doesn’t have any rhizomes, which are root-like stems beneath the ground that can produce grass shoots, and growing it back can be a problem.
Where Should I Create My Backyard Pitch?
The best spot for a pitch is preferably in front of the garage, a fence, or a wall, so you can have an automatic wicketkeeper for one-on-one games. Keep in mind where four runs or six and out will be and where is it best to bowl from. When selecting your area, aim for an open space away from windows, cars and glass doors to help avoid any unwanted breakages.
Once you’ve picked a spot, mark the length of your pitch. If you have older kids or a larger backyard to work with, a pitch of around 15 to 20 meters is ideal. For younger kids or for smaller spaces, you may want to make your pitch a bit shorter.
How Do I Mow in a Cricket Pitch?
Now we are on to the next step, mowing your pitch. When mowing your pitch drop the height of your blades on your mower. You need to mow the pitch into the existing lawn nice and short, so you’ll get more bounce. Plus, it will look more like the pitches you see on TV, with a nice contrast to the rest of the yard. Remember though, don’t mow down to dirt or you’ll have a sticky wicket: dead grass!
You may have to mow a few times, depending on how thick your grass is to make your wicket. When mowing it is also best to keep your catcher on to remove your clippings so there is nothing left on the surface.
What Is the Best Way to Set Up Stumps for Backyard Cricket Pitch?
Once you’ve removed your clippings, it’s time to set up stumps! If you have wooden stumps and bails, knock ‘em into the ground.
Tip: Use the back of your bat to help hammer the spike all the way into the profile.
If you want to get more creative, go for the good old council bin, Esky, stack of buckets, or even tape a set of stumps onto the wall or fence.
To make the crease, it is best to use a turf safe option like Landscapers Chalk. You should be able to pick this up from your local hardware and Bunnings stores. This temporary paint will be safe for use on your lawn type and will wash off with water.
To mark out the crease in front of the stumps, measure the full length of your bat including the handle, plus one extra handle length.
For clean, sharp lines, place pieces of cardboard on either side of the area to mask the surrounding grass while spraying.
Aftercare
Once you call stumps for the day, give the pitch an aerate and a deep soak. If there’s excessive wear, you may need to lay off it for a few days for it to recover.
Bonus Tip
Wrap some electrical tape around a tennis ball (half of the ball is covered in tape). This will cause the ball to swing a lot in the air and will really keep the batsman guessing!
Happy batting and bowling.
