Summer Sports - Cricket
Site Manager Jonathan Blakeman
Head Groundsman Rob Franklin
Cricket square construction ‐ 24th March 2014
recharge pump vertical drainage system. Some 200 bore holes were drilled to varying depths of 20‐40 feet for the EGRP devices. Although the system is vertical, the result is lateral drainage via a combination of hydrostatic pressure, a mild vacuum and gravity. Ground Water Dynamics installed the same system to the Number 1 practice area at Edgbaston Stadium in April 2013 with impressive results.
Section 106 funding enabled us to have an artificial triple bay net facility installed by Dura‐Sport in May 2015. The 40 metre long practice pitches incorporated the ECB approved Dsi‐pro Cricket System and was the first site in the UK to receive Dura‐ Sport’s enhanced i‐weave cricket surface. First use of the square took place in 2015. Thirteen junior and women’s fixtures gave us an opportunity to see how the new wickets played. With consistent bounce, carry and positive feedback a full fixture list was formulated for 2016. That saw the programme increase to forty‐two days of cricket, which included five 3‐day 2nd XI fixtures. The 2nd XI returned last season for the same amount of games as part of a forty‐three day fixture programme and 2018 is again packed out. In addition to the county 2nd XI, the club’s Academy and Emerging Player Programme squads use the facilities weekly for training sessions and we are the home venue for Warwickshire Women. The 1st XI have trained here when Edgbaston hosts a test match, and also last season during the ICC Champions Trophy.
104 I PC APRIL/MAY 2018
The EGRP system accelerates the soils ability to absorb water
The square was extended to twelve wickets in October 2017 with Fineturf Ltd laying the additional two strips. The loam used remains unchanged, two thirds Ongar Loam amalgamated with one third Super Surrey Loam. Germination started after ten days (12th Oct), with full coverage achieved after twenty‐five days. It is hoped these can accommodate some junior fixtures in 2019. We have one full time head groundsman in Rob Franklin who is in his 49th season with Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Until 2014, he was based at Edgbaston Cricket Ground which included a period as head groundsman between 1984 and 1991. In terms of pitch preparation, Rob starts
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We have one full time head groundsman in Rob Franklin who is in his 49th season with Warwickshire County Cricket Club
pre‐season rolling in February, if weather allows, with an Allett Regal 36” weighing just over ⅓ tonne, slowly increasing in weight to ½ tonne with bags of loam before switching to an unballasted Auto‐Roller (1.7 tonne). The Auto‐Roller is one of the originals manufactured by T.H.White and is thought to be over fifty years old. In 2003, Autoguide Equipment fitted the re‐power kit, so it does have power steering and an ignition start. Our first fixtures usually fall mid‐April and Rob will start preparing the wicket ten to fourteen days prior. The final height of cut ranges from 6.5‐7.5mm with two cutting options ‐ either an Allett Shaver or Dennis FT510. As we move into the summer months, irrigation and covering up play an important part. Above 18 degrees the wickets start to dry out quite quickly and often the roll on covers or sheets are utilised to retain or create some moisture. In the Cape Hill Brewery days, artesian well water was available from one of three pumping stations. The wells were capped when the brewery closed in 2002 and we now irrigate off a 10,000 litre water tank and pump system which is attached to the main pavilion. It delivers fifteen gallons a minute and can last for up to two and a half hours before a full switch off for refilling. The drainage here is impressive and was almost certainly installed as a field tile system using clay pipes in 1929 prior to Mitchells & Butlers opening the ground in 1930. Furthermore, when the original cricket square was dug up in 1994, we have photos
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