Junior cricket in Australia is changing.

After a successful pilot, Cricket Australia has announced it will roll out a set of significant rule changes across the country designed to improve enjoyment levels and participation rates of its junior participants.

A pitch four metres shorter than the traditional 20 metre version will be introduced for certain age groups.

The number of players on the field will be reduced from 11 to seven players for some and it will be coupled with smaller boundaries, capped innings and less overall playing time.

Anthony Warner coached the under-11 Cubs side at Yarraville Cricket Club, and was part of Cricket Australia's pilot at the start of last season.

"Once the season got going and people knew the rules a bit better the kids really enjoyed it," Warner said.

Over 600 teams were involved in Cricket Australia's experiment and the results surprised even the naysayers. Warner said some found it confusing at first but the new format quickly won over both players and parents.

The junior pathways for young cricketers in Australia are about to become more sophisticated. ( Supplied: Cricket Victoria )

"I think early on there was a bit of opposition to it. Especially from the ones who had come from the traditional format the year before," he said.

"Even the adults found it a little bit tough at first but once we got going the feedback was really good.

"For a kid who can't usually hit the ball to boundary it certainly gave them a lot of encouragement. For many the changes gave them a sense of accomplishment and the feeling that they are improving."

Senior manager of team performance at Cricket Australia and former Southern Stars captain Belinda Clark said the changes had been proven to increase the engagement levels.

"The biggest changes are pitch length and the number of players on the field but what that does is increase the number of balls in play which means the activity of the kids is much higher," Clark said.

Junior code war only getting fiercer

Warner said the effort that codes were now going to in order to foster junior talent was noticeable.

"Through my kids I have actually been involved with soccer, cricket and Aussie rules. I definitely think they have all stepped it up since I was a kid around 30 years ago," he said.

A shorter pitch length was trialled by over 600 clubs around Australia last summer, including at Yarraville Cricket Club. ( ABC News: Pat Galloway )

"I do think cricket had to go that way because they were probably starting to lose kids to other sports."

Indeed sport in Australia has never been so commercial, and the knock-on effect is a new race to attract and keep junior participants who, through their ongoing interest, will ultimately help grow the game and drive more revenue.

Rule changes for U10s and U11s A shorter pitch

A shorter pitch Smaller field with shorter boundaries

Smaller field with shorter boundaries Fewer fielders to "enhance on-field activity"

Fewer fielders to "enhance on-field activity" Higher rotation of batters and bowlers

Higher rotation of batters and bowlers Shorter match times

Cricket Australia proudly declared last year it was Australia's number one participation sport across all ages, with over 1.4 million people padding up on a regular basis.

AFL and football actually boast similar numbers and depending on which survey you cite, there is arguments to be made for the relative strength of each.

It costs money to adapt pitches, playing equipment, educate and build advocacy within the sport for such changes to have an impact.

In Cricket Australia's case, it has built itself up to a position where it can invest in its future with well researched rule changes, designed to keep more kids in the pipeline.

"We want to make sure the kids enjoy the sport and come back next year. We are really committed to making sure that is the case," Clark said.

Anthony Warner is coach of the under-11s at Yarraville Cricket Club. ( ABC News: Patrick Galloway )

Cricket also has a ready-made promotional tool to leverage, already embedded in the lounge rooms of many families. It is the burgeoning Big Bash — the game's shorter, action-packed version that is loved by kids over summer from dawn to dusk.

"I think the great thing about cricket is we have got this domestic product but we also have great international teams, both men and women, forging away which is also attractive to kids," Clark said.

Now, thanks to these new rules, they are a better chance of emulating their idols from a younger age.

Dependant on the level of cricket's success with these rule changes, arguably the biggest impact the announcement will have is on the other sports in this intensifying race to win over future participants.

Cricket Australia will take a staggered approach to rolling out the new rules over the next three years, starting with the under-10 and under-11 age groups next summer.