Sports Lighting Footcandle Standards for Cricket 🏏

These standards offer recommendations for designing sports lighting systems. The objective is to create a suitable luminous environment that enhances the visibility of the playing target (ball), competitors, and surrounding areas. This includes specific guidelines for the sport of cricket.

Class I

Cricket Class I Footcandle Standards

Class I of competitive play is any competition that is played before a group of 5,000 or more spectators. Lighting criteria for major stadiums and arenas require special design considerations such as vertical and horizontal illuminance values not covered by this practice, which may be defined by individual sports governing bodies and/or broadcasting organizations.

Recommended illuminance levels are:

Infield (Wicket Square): Light Intensity: 100 fc. CV = 0.10 or less. (Emax/Emin = 1.5:1)
Outfield: Light Intensity: 75 fc. CV = 0.13 or less. (Emax/Emin = 1.7:1)

Cricket Class II Footcandle Standards

Class II of competitive play is any competition that is played before a group of up to 5,000 spectators. Lighting criteria for major stadiums and arenas require special design considerations such as vertical and horizontal illuminance values not covered by this practice, which may be defined by individual sports governing bodies and/or broadcasting organizations.

Recommended illuminance level:

Infield (Wicket Square): Light Intensity: 75 fc. CV = 0.10 or less. (Emax/Emin = 1.5:1)
Outfield: Light Intensity: 50 fc. CV = 0.17 or less. (Emax/Emin = 2.0:1)

Cricket Class III Footcandle Standards

Class III of competitive play is any competition that is played before a group of up to 2,000 spectators. Lighting criteria for major stadiums and arenas require special design considerations such as vertical and horizontal illuminance values not covered by this practice, which may be defined by individual sports governing bodies and/or broadcasting organizations.

Recommended illuminance level:

Infield (Wicket Square): Light Intensity: 50 fc. CV = 0.13 or less. (Emax/Emin = 1.7:1)
Outfield: Light Intensity: 30 fc. CV = 0.17 or less. (Emax/Emin = 2.0:1)

Cricket Class IV Footcandle Standards

Class IV of competitive or recreational play only, with limited or no provision for spectators. Class IV lighting levels are suitable for play at fields that do not draw a large number of spectators. Many fields that host competitive play for adult recreational leagues will have very few spectators. Games for youth leagues will typically only be attended by family members of the participants.

Recommended illuminance level:

Infield (Wicket Square): Light Intensity: 30 fc. CV = 0.17 or less. (Emax/Emin = 2.0:1)
Outfield: Light Intensity: 20 fc. CV = 0.25 or less. (Emax/Emin = 3.0:1)

Download a copy of all Cricket Class Standards

Optimal Lighting for Cricket

CRICKET FIELD

Why is proper lighting important in cricket?

Proper lighting in cricket is essential for several reasons. It ensures player safety by enhancing visibility of the fast-moving ball, promotes fair play by providing uniform lighting throughout the pitch, and improves performance by helping players see the ball clearly from delivery to play. Adequate lighting is also crucial for night matches, enhancing spectator experience both in the stadium and for television viewers. Overall, good lighting not only meets the functional needs of the sport but also contributes to its aesthetic appeal and broadcast quality, making it a critical component of modern cricket infrastructure.

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OUTDOOR CRICKET FIELD

Field Layout and Dimensions

Cricket is a team sport played on an oval or circular shaped grass field. The size of the field varies, typically ranging from about 90 to 150 meters (295 to 492 feet) across. The field is divided into an infield and outfield area by a painted boundary line. Most of the action in cricket occurs within the infield area.

Sports Lighting Footcandle Standards for Cricket National LED

Infield Lighting Requirements

Due to the concentration of play in the infield area, it is illuminated to a higher average light level compared to the outfield. The infield houses a crucial element known as the cricket pitch, which is a rectangular area measuring 20 meters by 3 meters (66 by 9.8 feet).

Cricket Equipment

The game of cricket involves a wooden bat and a hard ball approximately 7.3 centimeters (2.8 inches) in diameter. While traditionally red, white balls are frequently used for matches played under artificial lighting at night to enhance visibility.

Lighting Challenges in Cricket

Cricket vs. Baseball: Direction of Play

Unlike baseball where the ball is pitched from one direction towards the batter, in cricket, the ball is delivered from alternating ends of the pitch.

Lighting Challenges in Cricket

This unique aspect of cricket presents additional challenges in lighting, as the entire pitch area must be uniformly illuminated to accommodate the changing directions of play.

Images: Figure 1, IES RP-6-15 p. 36

Sports Lighting Footcandle Standards for Cricket National LED

Images: Figure 1 & 2. IES RP-6-15 p. 36

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Sports Lighting Footcandle Standards for Cricket National LED

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