Each of two lines on either side of the wicket, at right angles to the bowling and popping creases, between which the bowler must deliver the ball.
Example sentencesExamples
- Mike introduces me to the popping crease and the return crease, although seconds after, I cannot remember which is which.
- Indeed when he bowls his leg-spin from around the wicket and close to the return crease, his bowling arm and point of release are often outside that crease and enable him to angle and spin deliveries out of bowler's footmarks so wide that the deliveries were called "wide".
- He must also stay behind the popping crease and within the return creases at his wicket until he releases the ball.