January 2010
fifteen of which are used for first-class cricket. “We reseed and topdress with Binders Ongar loam, using a 100% ryegrass, which we’ve found to out- perform others we’ve tested, with very good recovery times.” The secret to preparing good squares, believes Andy, is not to go for too fine a leaf. “There needs to be a good wear tolerance because, throughout the season, we place the grass under extreme stress, and then expect it to come back to life again quickly, so a hardy species is essential.”
Dealing with the unpredictable seasons can throw up more problems for turfcare. Wind and rain are some of the worst factors to contend with, believes Andy. “The weather is generally getting wetter and windier, which can either be a good or a bad thing, depending on the season. If it’s windy after heavy rain it has the
benefit of being able to clear a lot of surface water from the pitch.” “In dry conditions it can damage the blade, so we have to be alert to these conditions,” Andy cautions, before admitting that “there’s little anyone can do to protect against the wind - it’s a matter of laying good foundations so the elements don’t get the upper hand.” Rolling the wicket at the right time is another one of Andy’s keys to success - and finding the balance is a deciding factor, he says. “It’s been proven that rolling for too long wears the life out of the turf. The thinking has been to roll and roll and roll, but ECB research from Cranfield University shows it just isn’t the case.” “I like to prepare my wickets to a decent pace, not too quick but with a good bounce,” he continues and is vehement in his belief that wickets
Andy Peirson examines the snow mould
“should always be prepared correctly, regardless of the fixture.”
“I’m not in the business of setting up
wickets to suit home advantage, or to the disadvantage of the opposition,” he insists. “The wicket will usually be checked two days before the game by the manager and team captain, who will take instruction from the grounds team on how well they believe the wicket might play.”
“It’s around this time of year that we have our annual meetings to decide what needs to be done, and is the opportunity to talk more fully with the players and the manager to see what else they might want us to do, if anything.” Essential maintenance is “futile” without having the right tools for the job, he argues, which is why one of his next projects in the pipeline will be to reassess the club’s turf machinery, possibly
engineered for perfection
A first class finish …. everytime
For more information on our full range of cricket ground maintenance equipment call 01332 824777
PROUDLY BRITISH
www.dennisuk.com 75
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