Summer Sports - Cricket
It takes around two hours to cut the outfield with a Toro triple
county’s second ground at Taunton Vale, just a mile down the road, where the 2nd XI play the majority of their games, but does help out on match days if required. “We are going down the apprentice
route, not because it’s cheap labour but because we can mould them into our way of working. Luke is only sixteen, but is as keen as mustard and learning really quickly.”
I ask what other work he would like to
do. “As a Category C ground, our outfield has fallen behind the Category A and B grounds because of the money the ECB have provided to grounds where international cricket is played. It’s by no means bad, but grass cover is a bit thin in places and there are a few undulations
The outfield requires some attention, but is not too bad!
we’d like to sort out. The twice yearly vertidraining has improved it though. In time, I’d also like to have drainage installed, but that’s probably a way off currently, although if we have a repeat of the weather of the last couple of summers, then who knows?” “Another strange anomaly is that our net wickets are ten feet wide with a two foot gap between each one. I’ve no idea why that was originally done! So, what I’m thinking of doing is reducing them to nine feet wide and losing the ‘wasted’ ground. This will reduce the size of the square considerably, which will save valuable preparation time and also reduce the cost of fertilisers.” Simon confesses that he is an ‘old
school’ groundsman, because that is the way he has been taught. “I use my eyes and what the wickets feel like underfoot. But, I like to think that, in my armoury, are some more modern techniques.” As we conclude our interview, Simon confesses he is a pretty relaxed individual which, given the job he does is, no doubt, a valuable trait. “Bad stuff comes along; I’m not going to beat myself up about it,” he said. “All me and my team can do is the best job possible and hope that players approve of what we’ve provided. So far, we’ve had few complaints.”
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JUNE/JULY 2013 PC 55
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