Various Types of Boundaries in Cricket

Deepti Unni | April 17, 2025

In cricket, just like in life, establishing boundaries is crucial. These markers maintain order—especially to keep non-paying onlookers away during matches. Yet, just as in life, individuals will often attempt to breach these limits. A notable example occurred during the first ODI between Scotland and Australia at the Grange in Edinburgh.

Barriers appear to be ineffective when it comes to dissuading cricket enthusiasts from watching a game. For instance, schoolchildren have been known to climb the towering walls at The Oval simply to sneak a peek at the Ashes match in 1953.

Cricket’s thrilling adventure
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In the subcontinent, skipping school or work to catch a match has become something of a rite of passage, and the unpredictability of nature sometimes assists fans in this quest.

Fans climb tree to watch an ODI
Arijit Sen / © India Today Group/Getty Images

Galle Fort serves as an unofficial 12th man during matches in Sri Lanka. The venue is popular with The Barmy Army, who have long made it their hub. The fort’s picturesque walls serve not just as a backdrop but also as a vantage point for fans.

Activities near Galle Fort
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Such barriers—both literal and figurative—may not fully keep fans away, which sometimes necessitates adding extra security, as seen during England’s tour of Pakistan in 2005, where security measures were heightened.

Pakistani commandos secure the pitch
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On the other hand, in Afghanistan, abandoned structures such as timber factories are repurposed by children who perfect their cricket skills without the need for walls.

Playing cricket in a destroyed factory
Mauricio Lima / © AFP/Getty Images

In some cases, barriers are unavoidable. For instance, during the 2011 World Cup in Ahmedabad, fans faced discouraging messages as they sought to purchase tickets.

Ticket sales horror in Ahmedabad
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