Introduction
This section has been divided into the general tasks that are carried out in the maintenance of a cricket pitch, the task of pitch preparation and post-match renovation.
Throughout the season it is quite probable that a number of complaints will be received about a pitch or pitches. Sometimes this will be unjustified and can be put down to poor losers. At other times, the complaints may have some substance to them and these will need looking into.
Common complaints might include inadequate bounce or the ball deviating unintentionally from the desired line.
Rolling
A very interesting article on rolling appeared in the June 2001 issue of 'The Groundsman', ('Get back to basics to get rolling results just right' by Alex Vickers, pp16-17) which identifies how rolling increases soil strength in two ways:
- Sand dominated soils - "..strength is increased by packing soil particles closer together. This increases friction between particles, locking them together..."
- Clay dominated soils - "..rolling increases the number of small pores in the soil. These pores strongly hold onto water and it is this internal cohesion that provides the extra strength in a rolled clay soil when it dries".
A cricket pitch exhibits a combination of these effects due to a heavy clay loam being a mixture of clay, sand and silt.
One common tip for rolling is that if the surface of the pitch starts to turn blackish, then stop rolling and wait an hour or so before recommencing.
During April the weight of the roller used will typically be 1½ - 2 tonnes.
Take care not to use a heavy roller on a dry surface of a pitch otherwise the soil may crumble, especially if grass root density and depth is not ideal.
Mowing
The frequency of mowing will depend upon the amount of top growth produced and the standard of square required. Typically a square will be mown twice a week, however, mowing three or four times per week may also be needed.
The height of cut will generally be 8 to 12mm for the square, however, when a pitch is starting to be prepared this will gradually be reduced to 2-5mm (1/16" - 3/16") on the day of play, depending upon requirements and the smoothness of the surface.
Scarification
Thatch and fibre can be a major problem in cricket squares and these can be a significant cause of surface faults, which results in absorbing energy from a cricket ball consequently reducing ball bounce and also slowing of the speed of the ball during delivery.
Unpredictable deliveries can also result from thatch and fibre, making for a potentially dangerous pitch.
Regular scarification should be carried out in addition to that which is undertaken in the preparation of a pitch.
Fertiliser application
Adequate nutrients will need to be applied during the growing season to ensure a hard wearing sward is maintained. A range of fertilisers are suitable for use on a cricket square and the following typical fertiliser requirements could be used as a starting point: (Reference, STRI 'Fertilisers for Turf, 1996, p.36)
- Nitrogen: 8 -12 g/m²;
- Phosphate: 2 - 4 g/m²;
- Potash: 4 - 10 g/m².
The quantity of phosphate and potash will depend upon soil analyses and sward assessments, however, an application of phosphate can be beneficial during renovation time to aid seedling establishment.
A general programme along the following lines could be used as a guide, however, each square will have different requirements:
- April: 14:0:7 @ 35g/m², providing 4.9 g/N/m²,
- May/June: 8:0:0 @ 35g/m², providing 2.8 g/N/m²,
- August: 11:5:5 @ 25g/m², providing 2.75 g/N/m².
Drag-brushing
This should be carried out on a regular, almost daily, basis.
Chemical Applications
May is usually a good time to carry out any herbicide application. Growth is usually good at this time of year and this allows for an effective elimination of most weeds.
Fusarium patch might be a problem on intensively maintained cricket squares, however, with perennial ryegrass dominated squares this should not be as much of a consideration as for example on golf or bowling greens.
Careful observation will be required though, so don't neglect this task.
Irrigation
Irrigation will be required throughout the season to maintain not only a good surface but to allow the soil particles to be squeezed together during the process of rolling. Rolling a dry soil will result in it cracking, producing an unacceptable playing surface.
The use of rotary type sprinklers can result in uneven coverage. This in turn can produce an uneven ball bounce. It is important to irrigate to a suitable depth, to at least 75mm, and not just to penetrate the immediate surface of the soil.
Pitch Preparation
To prepare a pitch ready for a match a certain number of days will be required to get the pitch into a suitable condition. The time taken will depend upon the standard of play as well as how well the pre-season work had been carried out.
Pitch preparation can generally take anything from 5 to 10 days, occasionally up to 14 days: There are no hard and fast rules, however, the following will serve as a useful guide:.
A 'typical' pitch preparation programme for a 7-day period:
- Day 1: Roll (1-2 hours), Mow, Scarify, Irrigate;
- Day 2: Drag-brush, Scarify, Mow;
- Day 3: Roll (½-1½ hours), Drag-brush;
- Day 4: Drag-brush, Scarify, Mow; (This is also the last time to safely irrigate the pitch before the match day)
- Day 5: Roll (½-1 hour), Drag-brush; Mow;
- Day 6: Roll (½-1 hour), Drag-brush, Scarify, Mow, Mark-out (or on match day);
- Day 7: Match Day: Drag-brush, Scarify, Double mow (1/16"-2/16"), Final Roll of 10 minutes, Mark-out.
Post-match renovation
Immediately after the match has finished brush, using a besom broom, the ends of the pitches. Tidy up the pitch by giving it a cut to remove any surface vegetative debris.
Repair any damaged footholds by firming with a heavy clay loam.
Irrigate the pitch to help subsequent sarel spiking and overseed thin and bare areas. The use of pre-germinated seeds, especially on the pitch ends should be considered.
Apply a fertiliser (possibly a liquid one) to the whole of the pitch to help for a quick rejuvenation. A typical one will contain 8-14% nitrogen and applied at 25-35 g/m².
Cover some of the thin areas and pitch ends with fine grass clippings. This will help to act as a fine mulch and aid seed establishment.
If the pitch is to be used later on in the season, then do not top-dress the pitch for now. Following a good renovation within the season then it could be used again within some six weeks.
It is good practice to renovate patch as they come out of use for the season.
Other
This might include pest control, however, this is generally not so much of a problem on cricket squares during the summer period.