In the game of cricket, the cricket pitch consists of the central strip of the cricket field between the

wickets. It is 22 yd (20.12 m) long (1 chain) and 10 ft (3.05 m) wide.[1] The surface is flat and is normally
covered with extremely short grass, but can be completely dry or dusty soil with barely any grass or, in
some circumstances (that are rarely seen in high level cricket), made from an artificial material. Over the
course of a cricket match, the pitch is not repaired or altered other than in special circumstances -
meaning that it will change condition. Any grass on the pitch in the game's first over, for example, may
have disappeared by the twentieth over due to wear.

As almost all deliveries bowled will bounce off the pitch towards the batsmen (the only exception would
be a, usually accidental, full toss), the state and type of a cricket pitch can significantly affect the
outcome of a match. For example, a dusty, very dry, pitch will favour spin bowling because the ball will
grip more on a dusty pitch - giving the team with the superior spin bowlers a significant advantage in the
match.[2] The state of the pitch is so important to the outcome of a cricket match that teams can be
fined or docked points if they produce a poor pitch that is deemed unfit for normal play, or seen to be a
danger to batsmen by the ball behaving erratically when pitching on it,[3] and players can face
disciplinary action if they are seen to be deliberately damaging or altering the pitch in ways that are not
allowed by the Laws of Cricket. Because of this, coaches, players, commentators and pundits will make
much of how the pitch is "behaving" during a cricket match, especially in a match that takes place over
many days, where the condition of the pitch will significantly change over time, such as in a first class
match or a test match. They will also place a high level of importance on the coin toss that determines
who bats first with regards to the pitch's condition. For example, a captain who choses to bowl first on a
pitch that is "flat" and turns out to be easy to bat on, may subsequently be considered to have made an
error. [4]

In amateur matches in some parts of the world, artificial pitches are sometimes used. These can be a
slab of concrete overlaid with a coir mat or artificial turf. Sometimes dirt is put over the coir mat to
provide an authentic feeling pitch. Artificial pitches are rare in professional cricket, being used only
when exhibition matches are played in regions where cricket is not a common sport.

The pitch has specific markings delineating the creases, as specified by the Laws of Cricket.

The word wicket often occurs in reference to the pitch. Although technically incorrect according to the
Laws of Cricket (Law 6 covers the pitch and Law 8 the wickets, distinguishing between them), cricket
players, followers, and commentators persist in the usage, with context eliminating any possible
ambiguity. Track or deck are other synonyms for pitch.[5][6]

The rectangular central area of the cricket field – the space used for pitches – is known as the square.
Cricket pitches are usually oriented as close to the north-south direction as practical, because the low
afternoon sun would be dangerous for a batsman facing due west.[7]