Tips from the experts.
A WET START TO THE CRICKET SEASON
They say a picture tells a thousand words, and the recent media shots of Worcestershire’s New Road underwater and team photos being taken on one of the few remaining green areas really sums up the difficulties many grounds and their groundsmen and women are facing after a cold and very wet start to 2018.
After another 20mm of rain fell last Monday evening, it is looking highly unlikely that we shall be seeing any cricket in the immediate future. For those of you lucky enough to work indoors, I can tell you the rain started falling the day before Christmas Eve and has been incessant ever since, with March being the second wettest in Sheffield since 1951 and we have already exceeded the monthly average for April. Most grounds are a long way from ready for the forthcoming season and unfortunately disruption is inevitable this year. So, my advice is simple, please be patient. The only thing that can be achieved by rushing onto wet grounds is damage to the playing surface.
At present most, if not all, grounds are saturated and at field capacity; which means all the tiny spaces between the particles of soil are full of water. Some may use the analogy of the water table being full, which ever, we cannot start to prepare pitches until the soil starts to dry and these pore spaces start to empty. At this point the roller can start pushing these spaces together creating compaction. Early use of the heavy roller can cause ribbing, creases and root breaks - so use of the square mower or a light roller would be advisable when conditions allow. If your feet are leaving an impression in the square, keep off altogether. Ideal rolling conditions are when the consistency of the soil resembles that of Plasticine and timing is everything. Two hours heavy rolling on a square under ideal conditions is better than 20 hours of rolling at the wrong time. The real hardness of pitches comes through the drying process; sun and wind are key to this as is the ability of the grass plant itself taking moisture from the soil through its roots.
Many outfields are also saturated, so mowing will have been sporadic if any has been done at all. This will mean, when cutting is possible, clippings will be a big problem. It is important to remove these at the earliest convenience to stop dead clippings killing grass and slowing ball roll on the outfield. If you do not have the option of grass collection on your mower then a working party with rakes is just as good. Take care with any aeration under these conditions; it may seem like a good idea but verti-draining a saturated outfield can cause capping of the surface and slitters and earthquake type linear aerators may cause weak areas allowing the outfield to open and crack when the summer eventually arrives.
Finally, remember there’s a reason that ours is a green and pleasant land, the weather has always and will continue to play a big part in outdoor sport. Delayed starts, rain breaks and washouts are all part of the game so be patient, you never know, the wet start may mean we get the driest season for years, we can live in hope.
Mark Pearson
Regional Pitch Advisor (Yorkshire)
A WET PRE-SEASON
It’s fair to say that we have experienced a very wet winter and the useful dry spell we quite often get in March through April hasn't materialised. Stories are being shared right across the country as to how sodden cricket squares are and, here in Yorkshire, we are right in the thick of it with everyone else.
The message we are putting out to groundsmen across the county is not to panic and, despite the frustration, be as patient as possible. I can speak from my own experiences and relay the mistakes I have made in the past. In trying to show I am being proactive and 'Get the game on' I have taken rollers on to the square before conditions were suitable. This has given me problems later in the season and resulted in root breaks within the loam. Pressure can come from club members as they get keen to start the season but it is important to stand your ground and wait for surface conditions to improve.
Once the square is dry enough to get on with machinery you can start to catch up. There may have been a spurt of growth on your square and the initial cut may have to be with a rotary mower, ensuring the blades are nice and sharp. Gradually bringing the height of cut down with a cylinder mower will introduce the first light rolling and if an outfield roller mower is available that would be an ideal next step. Some leagues have put back the start of the season and this may offer the groundsman a chance to get in some quality hours of rolling. If not, don’t be too disappointed. I have had seasons where I did little pre–season rolling but the first wickets used showed little difference to other seasons. Even if the season has started, while there is still moisture in the square, and if time allows, roll the whole square, across at first and always finishing in the line of play.
Some of the tasks such as applying fertiliser or verti cutting/light scarifying, may have to be put on hold while squaring up and cutting early wickets take priority.
Remember that advice is always available through the County Groundsmen’s Association and the County Pitch Advisors are only too happy for you to contact them direct for an informal discussion about your concerns (contacts available HERE.
Best of luck to everyone.
Kevin Byrne
Yorkshire County Pitch Advisor
April 2018