The governing body of cricket in the Netherlands, the KNCB, has initiated a three year programme to promote natural grass pitches in the country. Overseeing much of this work is Head Groundsman Andy Clarke


Laurence Gale MSc reports


DUTCH COURAGE


T


he governing body of cricket in the Netherlands, the Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Board (KNCB), has initiated a three-year programme to


promote natural grass pitches in the country. Working with the ICC, ECB and IOG, their aim is to achieve ECB/IOG Performance Quality Assessments standards. There are, perhaps surprisingly, seventy nine clubs that are registered with the KNCB, most of which play on artificial surfaces. Currently, only four clubs have natural grass facilities and just two that can accommodate international matches. However, this number will increase through the KNCB initiative. Carrying out this work is Andy Clarke, formerly Head Groundsman at Shenley Cricket Centre and an ECB Pitches Advisor, eight years as Head Groundsman at Bishop’s Stortford CC, with a spell as Head groundsman at Winchmore Hill Sports Club in between. Andy was appointed


in March 2008 to oversee the three year


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