Eden Park, located in Auckland, New Zealand, is widely recognized as the smallest international cricket stadium in the world in terms of boundary size. With straight boundaries measuring as little as 55 meters, it has become a dream venue for batters and a nightmare for bowlers.

Boundary Dimensions

The ICC’s minimum boundary size for international matches is 59.43 meters (65 yards) from the center of the pitch. However, Eden Park falls short of this mark — particularly in the straight directions, where boundaries are often under 60 meters due to the stadium’s rugby-centric design.

Straight boundary: ~55 meters
Square boundary: ~64-68 meters
Leg-side/off-side: Varies but often still short compared to other grounds

Because of these dimensions, bowlers often rely more on variation and field placements to survive rather than raw pace or spin alone.

Why Are Eden Park’s Boundaries So Small?

Eden Park is a multi-purpose venue originally designed for rugby union, New Zealand’s most popular sport. Its oval-to-rectangular shape is ideal for rugby but poses spatial limitations for cricket. As a result, cricket pitches are wedged into the shorter side of the stadium, significantly reducing boundary length in the straight direction.

Famous Matches & Records

Eden Park has been host to many iconic cricket matches. Some of the most entertaining T20 and ODI matches have taken place here due to its high-scoring nature.

New Zealand vs Australia, T20I (2018):
Australia chased down 243, one of the highest successful T20 chases ever.
2015 Cricket World Cup:
Eden Park hosted key matches, including the famous New Zealand vs South Africa semifinal, where Grant Elliott's six over long-on sealed the match.
Frequent sixes:
Batters such as Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, and David Warner have frequently taken advantage of Eden Park’s short boundaries to rack up sixes effortlessly.

Strategic Implications

For Batters:

Encourages aggressive play, especially straight down the ground.
Even mistimed shots can clear the boundary.
Ideal for power-hitters in T20 and ODI formats.

For Bowlers:

Requires precision, smart variations (slower balls, cutters, yorkers).
Bowlers often avoid bowling full length to reduce chances of getting lofted over the short boundaries.

For Captains:

Defensive field placements can’t always save runs.
Emphasis is on wicket-taking or containing batters by forcing them to play square of the wicket.

Player Opinions

Many international bowlers have voiced concerns over how difficult it is to bowl at Eden Park. At the same time, power-hitters love the venue. For example:

Chris Lynn once jokingly called it “a backyard cricket field.”
Kane Williamson has defended Eden Park by emphasizing its uniqueness and rich history.

Other Small Stadiums (Honourable Mentions)

While Eden Park tops the list, other small stadiums include:

The Wanderers Stadium (South Africa) – square boundaries are relatively short.
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bangalore, India) – high altitude and small boundaries make it a six-hitting paradise.
Sharjah Cricket Stadium (UAE) – compact ground famous for 90s ODIs.

Which is the Smallest Cricket Stadium in the World by Boundary?