Bowling Crease – the stumps will be positioned in the centre of this line at both ends of the pitch. The bowling crease is a horizontal line that should 2.64m long. The distance between the two bowling creases at either end of the pitch is 22 yards/20.12m/66ft. This is equal to the length of the cricket pitch.
Popping Crease – this line is horizontal and marked parallel to the bowling crease. It measures 3.66m in length 1.22m/4ft in front of the bowling crease and the stumps. Bowlers must ensure some part of their front foot on landing, when bowling, is behind the popping crease line. Failing to keep the front foot behind the line will see the umpire call a ‘no-ball’, which means the bowler will have to bowl an extra delivery and one run will be added on to the batting team’s score.
Batting Crease – the area between the bowling crease and the popping crease lines is known as the ‘batting crease’. Batters must make sure they have part of their body or bat grounded behind the popping crease line, inside the batting crease, when the ball is in play and before a fielder is able to remove the bails from the stumps with the ball, to avoid the risk of being run out or stumped. This applies at either end of the wicket so the player at the non-striker's end must also ensure that they remain in their crease until the bowler has released the ball as they can be run out by the bowler.
Return Crease – these vertical lines are 2.44m/8ft in length, perpendicular to the popping crease on both sides of the pitch. Bowlers must stay within these lines when bowling. If any part of the bowlers back foot is in contact with the return crease as they release the ball, a no-ball will be called, the bowler will re-bowl that ball and one-run is added to the batting team’s score.
The Wide Guidelines – these lines are only needed for limited overs matches such as 20-over, 50-over and 100 ball games, and are marked between the popping crease and the bowling crease. The lines are measured 17in inside the return crease on both sides of the pitch. If the ball is bowled outside of these guidelines on either side of the wicket, then a ‘wide ball’ is called by the umpire, the ball will have to be bowled again and one run is added to the batting team’s score.
Protected Area Indicators – these indicators are small hash marks that protect certain areas of the pitch from players standing there and wearing the pitch down as a result, which could lead to the bowling side gaining an unfair advantage. The first set of indicators are marked either side of the pitch 1.53m/5ft in front of, and parallel to, the popping creases at each end. The other set is marked at either end of the pitch 12in to both sides of middle stump.