EACH issue we catch up with a leading turfgrass professional and ask him or her what’s going on in ..
Lives READERS
Who are you? Chris Wood, Pitches Consultant for the England & Wales Cricket Board
How are you? Purring with pride and satisfaction as an Englishman after the most memorable cricket season ever. Other than that, not in too bad a shape for a 55 year old!
Where are you? At my office, based at my old patch at the Shenley Cricket Centre in Herts. 3 miles from home in London Colney and 20 miles from ECB HQ at Lord's.
What are you on? Sorting out end of season issues, advisory visits and attending lots of meetings etc. interspersed with copious amounts of really strong Yorkshire tea for my attention span!
What’s bugging you? Paperwork and traffic jams!
What are you reading? “As It Was” The Memoirs of Fred Trueman. Professional Yorkshireman and t’greatest fast bowler that ever drew breath. My childhood idol and inspiration to make cricket a lifetime occupation.
Favourite TV programme? CSI & CSI Miami. Kind of reminds me of Pitch Panel investigations!
Favourite film? The Alamo. I think it’s my siege mentality. Stubborn and never give up until the end!
Best experience? Achieving a First Class status match and recognition 5 years from restoring a disused and run-down venue with zilch equipment to start with & Monday 12th Sept at the Oval!
Worst experience? Being spat on and finding my tyres let down at 10pm at night, in the pouring rain, 250 miles from home after heated pitch panel hearings + not making the grade as a player and having to leave the Oval staff.
Why this industry? Outdoor life and the nearest connection to broken dreams of becoming a professional cricketer.
What would you be if not in this industry? God only knows. It’s all I’ve ever known since I left school!
Who and what to a Caribbean Island? Cheesy I know but I’m married to a South American who loves the sun and rhythm of the Spanish guitar as much as I do. Trouble is I would have to take someone along who could play the thing as well. (The guitar, not my wife!)
Trade shows -g good bad or ugly?
Great for networking and an excuse to get p****d. (not that I ever do!)
What will you do when you retire? Probably be put out to grass! (A stud farm would be good!) Seriously, no idea at the moment although it's not long to go!
Favourite bit of kit? That’s got to be my 36 inch Allett Regal that I loved in the 80’s with a Reliant engine, 3speed, reverse gearbox etc. - I felt like a turf-bound Hells Angel!
Top 3 bowling heroes? Fred Trueman, Richard Hadlee, Darren Gough.
Traditional Cricket or Twenty20? I like both forms of cricket equally.
Most likely to be heard saying..? “Looks very easy-paced to me” or “I’ll not being paying that price!”
Least likely to be heard saying..? “Looks a right quick belter to me” or “I don’t mind paying the price as it’s got a famous label!"
won? Stevie Birks hands down because Warney had a strop and resorted to childish scraping of the surface, then scuttled off to the press announcing that: “The Groundsman should keep his mouth shut and get on with his job to produce a good Test Pitch” - Birksy did and the Aussies, Warney et al lost the match - priceless!
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www.pitchcare.com/re Shane Warne v Steve Birks -w who
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