produce different types of pitches for varying types of matches in completely diverse climates. To prepare a good pitch, many aspects of turf management need to be brought together. Of these, experience, hard work, commonsense, perseverance, luck and good weather are the most important. Without luck and good weather it’s a hard job to make a good pitch,” he said. He’s seen the role become more


prominent over the years, but doesn’t believe groundsmen get the respect they deserve. “The profile of a head groundsman is higher than ever because of TV coverage. But the criticism from both


commentators and players, which is often aimed at the pitch and, therefore, indirectly aimed at the groundsman for five long days, is constant,” Andy said. The groundsman’s importance is


underrated, he believes. “The quality of the pitch is fundamental to the game. At the highest level, a lot is expected of the groundsman. The years of experience, and weeks of hard work and long hours ahead of a big match, are often taken for granted by employers, players, sponsors and spectators alike. That is, until there is a problem, then they remember your name!”


Andy says it is becoming harder to attract younger people within turf management towards cricket. “The terms and conditions are not attractive in many cases, and a lot of people do it for the love of the game. Even for a top


Upgrading Sabina Park, Jamaica ahead of 2007 World Cup


have backed up the point by declaring on 517-1 in the 1st Test of the Ashes! But, most of the time it’s the sub-continent’s pitches which are in the firing line. “Change is happening to Indian pitches,” said Andy. “The main aim is to produce pitches with more pace and bounce, and a better balance between bat and ball for Test matches. The Indian authorities are promoting that and having good results at venues such as Bangalore and Mohali.”


“It is not the wish of the ICC to see pitches around the world become standardised. Each country should


groundsman, the financial rewards and levels of respect are much less than those of a top greenkeeper for a similar event with wall-to-wall TV coverage,” he said.


One complaint he hears often


from the media, is how batsmen dominate too easily in Tests on flat, modern pitches. As I write, England


Hambantota, Sri Lanka, a new stadium for the 2011 World Cup


produce pitches that are natural to their conditions, so I would expect the ball to spin more in drier climes and seam more in damper conditions. There is nothing wrong with that.” There are, however, certain principles which apply to pitches the world over.


“Test matches require a surface that allows all the skills to be practised over the duration. Initially, you want some grass and moisture to allow early seam movement. Then, as the surface and grass dry out at the halfway stage, the roughened grass acts as an abrasive to allow the ball to grip.” “As the pitch dries out, batting becomes easier and the batsmen can dominate, but then, as the surface starts to deteriorate, which is quite acceptable from day three on, one expects assistance for spin bowlers. This, in my view, is what we should be aiming for in a Test pitch.”


Suriyawewa Stadium in


The C-Range


Each ‘easy-change’ cartridge becomes an integral part of the machine without loss of quality results.


Provides a wide range of professional turf maintenance needs from one machine.


Hangar 5, New Road, Hixon, Stafford, ST18 0PJ. Telephone 01889 272095, Fax 01889 271528, Email sales@allett.co.uk, web www.allett.co.uk


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