Why Exactly 22 Yards? The Curious Case of the Cricket Pitch

Cricket is full of glorious quirks. Fielding positions called “silly mid-off.” Matches that last five days and still end in a draw. Tea breaks. But one of the oddest quirks of all is the length of the pitch: 22 yards.

Why not a neat 20? Or a majestic 25? Why exactly 22?

Well, the answer—like many things in cricket—is a mix of history, practicality, and good old-fashioned British eccentricity.

From Chains to Cricket

The 22-yard length comes from a now-ancient measuring tool: the Gunter’s chain.

Invented in 1620 by mathematician Edmund Gunter, the chain was exactly 22 yards (66 feet) long and became the standard tool for surveying farmland.

When cricket’s laws were being formalised in the 18th century, the chain was already a common unit of measurement. So when someone asked, “How long should the pitch be?” the answer was essentially: “Well, one chain will do nicely!”

And just like that, 22 yards was set in stone—and has never changed.

Why 22 Yards Works

It turns out the old surveyors stumbled onto something genius:

• Balance between bat and ball – Fast bowlers get enough distance to gather steam, while batsmen still have time to react.

• Running practicality – Two quick sprints of 22 yards keep things exciting without turning singles into marathons.

• Game flow – Shorter would make batting carnage; longer would give bowlers too much of an advantage.

It’s the Goldilocks zone of pitch lengths: not too short, not too long, but just right.

What If It Were Different?

• 20 yards – A single might now be called a “twenty,” and we’d probably need 10-day Tests.

• 25 yards – Batsmen would need binoculars just to spot the ball.

• Metric cricket (perish the thought!) – Running 20 metres would sound like P.E. class, not Test match drama.

Thankfully, cricket has stubbornly kept its 22-yard tradition, refusing to bend to modern measures. Tea at 4 o’clock and yards on the pitch—that’s how it should be.

Did You Know?

• The word “chain” is still used in horse racing—10 chains equal a furlong.

  

• Until 1900, land in England was almost exclusively measured in chains and furlongs.

• Even though the Laws of Cricket are now global, they still state the length in good old imperial units.

In Summary

The 22-yard cricket pitch is a relic of farming surveys, immortalised by cricket and

preserved for centuries. It’s quirky, historic, and let’s face it perfect.

So, next time someone asks “Why 22 yards?” you’ll have the answer: thank a 17th-century mathematician, a farmer’s chain, and cricket’s glorious refusal to modernise.

And if you’re looking to make the most of your 22 yards, whether bowling rockets, batting long, or sprinting quick singles, you’ll find everything you need at Martin Berrill Sports.

After all, tradition is best enjoyed with the right kit.