Aussie cricketers greeted by farcical boundary

The Australian cricketers will be greeted by a field size more suited to under 10s when they face Pakistan in their final warm-up match for the Champions Trophy in Birmingham.

With pitches in the middle of Edgbaston’s huge wicket square being preserved for the tournament proper, the practice match will be played on a surface on the extreme edge of the wicket block.

That means the boundary to the western grandstand measures a ridiculously short 42 metres, a distance normally associated with junior cricket.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell suggested the rope might be even closer.

“We’ve just had the measurements out on the square boundary, on one side it’s 34 metres by our count, 42 (metres) by the groundsman’s, which I think is quite generous,” he said.

Batsman Chris Lynn is noted for his big hitting, and says he’ll be looking to target the short boundary.

“I think I might take that option. Last trial game I took on the long boundary and got caught about 20 (metres) in, so it might be a bit wise this time,” Lynn said.

The minimum size for boundaries laid down by the ICC is around 60 metres, however as this isn’t an official one-day international those requirements go out the window.

Although the warm-up match has no official standing, questions must be asked about the usefulness of such an exercise given the almost farcical size of the ground.