Lives in Cricket No 52 - Schooled in Cricket (2nd edition)

199 Chapter Twenty-four “Make pitch 22 metres” Johnny Lawrence was never afraid or shy to express his unorthodox views on the game of cricket. Historically the length of a cricket pitch has always been 22 yards or one chain. “In 1610 Edmund Gunter, an Oxford trained mathematician, who became Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College, London, invented as an instrument of measurement the chain.” Some time between then and 1744, cricket adopted this measure and in that year it is incorporated into the code of the game and has been there ever since. The length of a cricket pitch is one of those fundamentals of cricket – and indeed of life – that one rarely hears anyone dare to challenge. I find amongst the documents – or their photocopies – his family have given me a cutting of a letter he wrote which was published in the Yorkshire Post on April 8, 1986 – under the title “Make pitch 22 metres. “Sir – When will the word “Cricket” relate to what it used to mean – fair play, good spirit etc. The game has developed into a game of hostility rather than enjoyment. the powers- that-be should change the rules to the benefit of the player and the spectator. “May I suggest that it would make the game more enjoyable to all concerned if the length of the pitch were increased from 22 yards to 22 metres, the reasons being: 1. The average height of a person has increased since the rule was made and the game evolved. 2. The quick bowler would be encouraged to develop the art of swing bowling instead of just speed and bounce. 3. The slow bowler would get more chance and in this department lies the real skill of the game for both bowler, batsman and fielder. 4. The spectator enjoys watching skilful cricket rather than