CRICKET As groundsmen, we are ”
aware that pundits have to paint a picture, and the state of the pitch is really
important to many more people now, but the problem is in the terminology they adopt
The Emirates Riverside
nation clinched the trophy amid a riotously close super over. Whether World Cup fixture or an Ashes clash, groundsmen were in the firing line as pundits laid into the quality of the pitches. Reacting in the aftermath of the media frenzy, Vic says: “The scrutiny of pitches these days is massive and the language of pundits can be downright abusive.” “As groundsmen, we are aware that pundits have to paint a picture, and the state of the pitch is really important to many more people now, but the problem is in the terminology they adopt.”
“When staff mental health issues are causing problems in groundsmanship, some of their comments come too close to the bone.” Reportedly, planning is underway to assemble the national media in a bid to put across the message that strident words can cause mental turmoil, affecting wellbeing for some. Perhaps partly as a result, recruitment and retention present mounting problems across the sector. “Two of our staff have left this season, citing work/life balance for their departure,” says Vic.
Vic Demain
Hours can be gruelling, especially in summer.
”
They think: ‘why am I still on site at 9.00pm when I should be with my kids at home or enjoying a drink in the pub’
84 PC October/November 2019
“Hours can be gruelling, especially in summer. They think: ‘why am I still on site at 9.00pm when I should be with my kids at home or enjoying a drink in the pub’,” he states.
Then there’s the sheer intensity of the modern game. “The new 100-ball competition comes in next season to further complicate our job. The season is stretching out too, starting in March and finishing at the end of September. I’ve never known anything like it.”
“The traditional four-day championship games are pushed to the start and end of the season, with all the faster formats so popular now filling the warmest months.” Amid further controversy over test wickets
after Australia retained the Ashes, England’s record wicket-taking pace bowler James Anderson was said to have uttered that England had been “let down” by test venue groundsmen this summer. “I think they’ve probably suited Australia
more than us, he is quoted as stating. “I would have liked to have seen a bit more grass, but that’s the nature of the game here. We don’t use home advantage enough. I feel like we could just be a little bit more biased towards our own team.” Adding insult to injury, former-player pundits have spoken of “the slagheap pitches of Durham” - words that must surely wound the hardiest of grounds professionals and cricketers alike. “Your John Arlotts and Brian Johnstons would never utter such words,” Vic says in agitated tones, “and, in five minutes, such sensationalist talk can spread all over social media. Keaton Jennings, who was selected for England a couple of years ago, was picked due to the amount of runs he scored at Durham, which are said to reflect what they believe are bowler-friendly surfaces. During big matches, I take myself out of the arena. Some younger colleagues have a different disposition and may stomach the flak.”
Even before all the furore this season, last
winter, an England batting coach interviewed on TV identified pitches as one of the issues in the game, claiming they were unsuitable for county championship fixtures. Cricket groundsmen can be viewed as soft targets and end up as casualties, as Keith Exton, former head at SWALEC stadium, found to his cost.
Those in other sports are at the sharp end
too. “Guys like Carl Stanley at Wembley and Neil Stubley at Wimbledon are under immense pressure and come in for plenty of stick,” says Vic. “Something has to be done soon.” “A heck of a lot of scrutiny surrounds pitches, but until we can educate people, the media first of all - those who pass the message out to the public, about how little real control we have over what is a living surface, punditry will only worsen, I fear.” Breaking our conversation, a bird flies into view and lands by the covers, soon joined by another. “They’re a pair of oystercatchers,” Vic enlightens me. “Ollie and Ozzie live around here and are regular
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164
