What surface grades (slopes) should the field and pitch have?

Playing field (Guidance Note 01). The recommended maximum gradient for an oval is a 1% fall in any convenient direction. Steeper than 1% affects ball roll, and flatter grades make drainage rely more heavily on the profile and subsurface drainage. The preferred shape is a dome falling away from the centre wicket area, which protects the pitch from stormwater run-off. Where a dome is not possible, cross-fall and diagonal falls are acceptable, and where a turf pitch is needed, surface water should be directed away from it.

Pitch (Guidance Note 02)

• Pitches should not be steeper than 1% in any direction and should be built on a single plane.
• Cross-fall: 1% maximum. Turf wickets can be built flatter (for example 0.5%) but then rely heavily on covers in rain. Synthetic wickets, unless built on a free-draining base pavement, should always have a 1% grade.
• Longitudinal fall: flat, unless site constraints require a fall.
• Diagonal grades are accepted if the resulting gradient is not steeper than 1%.
• The centre square or pitch should sit above the outfield so water drains off it, raised gradually so it is not a tripping hazard (relevant to synthetic pitches). Where the outfield grades towards the wicket, locally raise the wicket block, by no more than 50mm, and blend it in so a bowler does not notice it.