Bob Stretton, former ECB Pitches Advisor for Warwickshire, and current Head Groundsman at the Massey Ferguson Sports Club, offers some advice on cricket covers
IT’S A COVER UP! U
p until the1960s, when Test and County cricket was played on uncovered pitches, the game was said to be a true test of ability to survive against the elements as well as fast and swing bowling. With the involvement of television (yes, there was television back then) it became more and more important to ensure that the game could go ahead, so the concept of covering up pitches was trialed and introduced. So, what is all the fuss about having to cover a cricket pitch! Maybe it’s because the game’s governing body, the ECB, see it as the way forward to improve playing surfaces by having the whole pitch covered in order to facilitate some form of cricket. Maybe it’s because the game is played on clay, and clubs who do not have covers are left at the mercy of weather during pitch preparation? Either way, covers are now such an integral part of cricket that many clubs use them, even at non-league level. There have been many theories on the use of pitch covers in cricket over the
28
years, and there are some truly ‘state of the art’ covers at most of the top cricket grounds around the country, none more so than the Stuart Canvas Hover Cover, but that is not the purpose of this article. The most famous (or should that be infamous?) cover was the one used at Edgbaston. It got its nickname “The Birmingham Brumbrella”, when it was used to protect the playing surface by means of mechanically rolling out a plastic sheet. It stretched from one side of the
ground to the other, across the full length of the cricket table and part of the outfield. At the time it was a very innovative piece of equipment, but had its problems. It was so heavy, and took so long to unroll, that it became impractical. By the time it had completed its journey, the shower that it was supposed to be protecting the surface from, had passed, dumping its load on the way! Eventually, when it broke down during a county game, it was decided to return to the more practical
method of covering the entire cricket square and run ups with plastic sheeting and roll on roll off covers (RORO).
Which type of covers should you choose?
There are two main types of covers - mobile and sheets. Mobile covers are usually apex or half moon shaped. Plastic sheeting generally comes in a four metre width, but can vary in length from 25-40 metres. They can be tailored to meet the requirements of clubs or schools. Mobile covers are not a cheap option.
Robust, sturdy and sectional for easier mobility, they are deemed to be more practical than plastic sheeting. They are also seen to be an expensive luxury and a ‘status symbol’ that many clubs have to have in order to participate in the league. This type of cover can, however, run into £1000s, adding additional financial hardship to clubs just to meet the demands of the regulators of the game.
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