What pitch length, ball, boundary and team size should each age group use?

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Accepted Answer

These are the ECB's recommended junior formats (last issued December 2018). County boards and leagues set the playing conditions for their own competitions, and those take precedence where they differ. Boys Age group Players Pitch Max boundary Hard ball Overs per innings Under 9 6 15 yards 30 m Soft ball only 12 Under 10 and Under 11 8 17 yards 35 m soft ball, 40 m hard ball 4¾ oz 16 Under 12 Up to 11 18 yards 50 m 4¾ oz 20 Under 13 Up to 11 19 yards 50 m 4¾ oz 20 Under 14 Up to 11 21 yards 55 m 5½ oz (5 oz in the ECB U14 County Cup) 20 Under 15 Up to 11 22 yards 55 m 5½ oz 20 Under 17 11 22 yards 60 m 5½ oz 20 Girls Age group Players Pitch Max boundary Hard ball Overs per innings Under 9 6 15 yards 30 m Soft ball only 12 Under 10 and Under 11 8 17 yards 35 m soft ball, 40 m hard ball 4¾ oz 16 Under 12 Up to 11 18 yards 45 m 4¾ oz 20 Under 13 Up to 11 19 yards 45 m 4¾ oz 20 Under 14 and Under 15 Up to 11 20 yards 50 m 5 oz 20 Under 17 11 22 yards 55 m 5 oz 20 Soft ball cricket uses a light or soft rubber ball at every age. "Up to 11" means teams of up to 11 players, with adaptations to the game. Under the 2026 MCC Laws, these balls are a Size 3 (4.69 to 4.84 oz, the 4¾ oz ball), Size 2 (5 to 5.25 oz) and Size 1 (5.5 to 5.75 oz). For example, the ECB's 2026 Under 13 Club T20 used a 19-yard pitch, a 4¾ oz ball and 27-inch by 8-inch stumps.

Age group	Players	Pitch	Max boundary	Hard ball	Overs per innings
Under 9	6	15 yards	30 m	Soft ball only	12
Under 10 and Under 11	8	17 yards	35 m soft ball, 40 m hard ball	4¾ oz	16
Under 12	Up to 11	18 yards	50 m	4¾ oz	20
Under 13	Up to 11	19 yards	50 m	4¾ oz	20
Under 14	Up to 11