The Groundsman - No.9: Dual purpose cricket pitches

Former first-class cricket groundsman and MD of cricket surface specialist total-play Ltd, David Bates, talks about the impact of using cricket outfields for winter sports and how to minimise any potential problem

With cricket clubs now shutting down after the playing season, many grounds will see their cricket outfields being used for winter sports.

However, providing the cricket square is left to rest, dual use of cricket outfields isn’t always bad news – so long as clubs are properly prepared. The impact of winter use will have on an outfield is really down to two factors – the volume of out-of-season use and the quality of the surface at the outset.

These really are key in terms of how the surface holds up for the start of the next cricket season. A common problem on dual use surfaces is fielders finding it difficult to pick up and 'feel safe' on the surface especially in the early part of the cricket season – something which is basically down to grass coverage and surface levels.

Football pitches get the heaviest wear around the goal and down the centre pitch of the pitch, which can result in a surface being very uneven and bare. To combat this, as soon as possible after the end of winter games season, the groundsman should complete a renovation process which could include aeration, an application of fertilise, overseeding and in the high wear the areas – potentially adding a layer of top dressing to smooth out the surface and promote better surface levels.

While these works are vital, the real secret is not to over play these dual use pitches during the winter months and to ensure they start the winter games season in as good a condition as possible to help minimise wear and tear.

In fact, careful management of cricket outfields during the winter can offer some benefit to the cricket groundsman by increasing the sporting club's finances. 

During his residency at Northants CCC, David Bates gained a reputation for preparing some of the finest pitches in the country. Having worked as a pitch advisor and trainer for the Institute of Groundsmanship, David now heads up totalplay Ltd – which designs and installs class-leading non-turf cricket pitches and pitch cover solutions, and sports pitch consultancy Total Turf Solutions

For more information, visit www.total-play.co.uk or call 01604 864 575