EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Excellent Sky


commentator, and a lovely bloke, Nasser Hussein was one that


”


could be a bit pernickety about pitches. I didn’t feel singled out though, because he could have it in for the groundsman


anywhere if he felt there was an issue


professional players. They’re poachers turned gamekeepers if you like,” said Mick, tongue in cheek.


“I suppose they’re more sympathetic to the issues of pitch preparation and maintenance. There’s more banter with some of them than others, and they tend to be the ones who liked give-and-take leg pulling when they were playing. I can’t honestly think of any that have been difficult. We all have a job to do and there’s respect all round generally.”


When it comes to players, Viv Richards tops his heroes’ list.


“He always said he knew pitches at Lord’s were going to be fair,” said Mick. “Viv never complained about conditions when things went wrong for his side and, of course, he was wonderful to watch when he was in full flow. He was good to talk to before and after play, always genial and laid back.”


Also high on Mick’s admiration list are


Kapil Dev, whom he describes as wonderful to watch with bat and ball, and a good bloke too; and Aussie Justin Langer, one time oversees player for Middlesex who he says was always ready with friendly, knowledgeable chat. “No villains really,” said Mick, then hesitated with a wink in his eye. “Excellent Sky commentator, and a lovely


bloke, Nasser Hussein was one that could be a bit pernickety about pitches. I didn’t feel singled out though, because he could have it in for the groundsman anywhere if he


felt there was an issue.” OK, it’s the Mick Hunt Award for best kit innovation. What gets the Oscar for pitch care in your book? “The hover-cover, definitely,” said Mick, this time with no hesitation. “As well as the benefit to my back, when rain stops play, we can get it into the middle before the players have left the pitch. We can get the whole of the square under cover within three minutes.”


“I think it was first designed and produced


by Stuart Canvas getting on for twenty years ago. Lord’s was the first ground in the world to use it and that Mark One is still in service and doing a great job here. Many other major cricket venues have followed suit. We never like rain stopping play, but the hover is a massive benefit to the game and a lot less wear and tear on the groundkeeping staff than covers of old. I love it.”


There have been countless big days and games at Lord’s in your time here. If you could bottle just one of them, which one would it be and why? “Probably the South Africa Test Match immediately after the 2012 Olympics.” “The archery tournament had been staged here. When the event was concluded and all the paraphernalia removed, the effect on more than a third of the outfield was troublesome to say the least; devastating actually.” “We had barely a fortnight to put things right before that Test. It meant that 6,000 square metres of turf had to be replaced, no


Mick’s favourite piece of kit, the hover cover 46 PC October/November 2018


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