The art of cricket groundsmanship is the skill to balance soil moisture content with pitch playability
The way cricket soils compact can be illustrated by the relationship between moisture content and density. When the soil is dry, adding small amounts of water weakens it. Water is absorbed into the clay particles and they swell.
As the soil dries out, the water is
removed and the clay particles shrink. Shrinkage due to drying is a very effective way of making pitches denser and harder.
Then there is the maintenance associated with them. Guttering, hoses, tyre repairs and replacement sheeting after being vandalised or damaged by animals and birds; all of which adds to the expense.
Plastic sheeting, on the other hand, could be seen as a low cost answer to the problem. At a fraction of the price of ROROs they can still do an adequate job of protecting the playing surface, bowlers’ run ups and other parts of the square that mobile covers could not. After all, pitch protection is what we are trying to achieve.
How do covers work?
Covers are a working tool, just like a heavy roller or the machinery used to prepare the pitch. They play an integral part in producing a quality playing surface for today’s game. They have to be conditioned for maximum benefits. Maintenance is just as important as covering the playing surface - a leaking cover serves no purpose at all.
The only way to compact soil is by compacting the air. Mineral particles themselves cannot be compacted - neither can water - only air. Covers act to protect the surface during the preparation of a pitch, before scarifying, mowing, rolling, or even during irrigating. The relationship between compaction and pitch performance can be a complex one. Groundsmen need to balance drying for shrinkage, hardness and ball bounce, but must be wary of the affects of service cracking too. The art of cricket groundsmanship is the skill to balance soil moisture content with pitch playability, and this art is assisted by the availability and use of covers. Utilising them correctly will help the pitch to produce a smoother and more consistent performance. Good preparation ensures that all results are possible.
As with over-covering, reduced covering can have negative effects on a pitch. Too dry and the preparation
process can be fruitless and may even damage the pitch, which, in turn, can have an affect on the game.
The Main Aim
The main aim of covers is to prevent rain from penetrating the surface when the pitch is in play or being prepared. A hard, dry pitch will deform less on ball impact, giving more bounce and pace whilst creating a sustainable surface. There is an optimum moisture content
for rolling and covers can be used to control this key element. If the soil is too dry it will be hard and liable to cracking. With too much moisture in the soil the pitch will be too wet to roll. The soils will not consolidate and the air pores will still remain in the profile, producing a dead pitch with little bounce and pace. How often do groundsmen roll in the moisture first thing in the morning during pre-season preparations, or after the covers have been on overnight to achieve consistency?
Advantages
The benefits of covers can be more far reaching than some may realise. Timing, skill and working with Mother Nature all play their part. Utilising covers is just one criteria for preparing good, sustainable pitches. If the covers are well looked after, and maintained regularly, they will last a long time. Whilst the concept is to keep the immediate playing surface dry during showers or longer periods of rain, they
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