Message Board - Cricket: Far too batsmen friendly....
24 May 2010 by Mitch62
Guys,
I took over the job of voluntary groundsman at my club on my return in 2007. Loads of hours of hard graft and advice from all of you through this message board has seen the pitches change from good first innings score of 160-170 to nothing is safe!
This weekend i used the same pitch for both sat and sun league games.
Saturday our firsts declared on 344-5 and lost. On Sunday the visitors hit 352-6 and we mustered up a measely 185-6 in reply!
Although i do not want to return to low scoring games i would like to prepare a pitch that gives the bowler a bit of a chance!!
Would like some advice please without having to verticut into the ground or turn the vibrate on on the roller.
Small village club, no covers, no sightscreens, no bowlers!!!
Mitch
24 May 2010 by Charles Johnson
I would be interested to know what sort of pitch they have been playing on in Florida, where we have seen consecutive internationals with low scores.
The good weather has allowed clubs like yours and mine produce excellent batting pitches without covers. But if it continues the pitches will get dustier and more spin friendly.
To try and balance I have been leaving more and longer grass on new pitches, and watering (the ends) before the next games. This week there was a "complaint" that the ball was seaming about in the first half hour which contributed to the loss of early wickets - this was sort of what I was aiming for, and the skipper's fault for choosing to bat in full knowledge of the pitch preparation. But it is still proving to be easy batting, they made 200+.
The next idea I was thinking of leaving the boundary rope further out, and raising the gang mowers up a notch.
24 May 2010 by Mitch62
Thanks Charles.
Unable to move the boundary on three sides due to houses, railway line and three mighty oaks!! Might have to push the other one out a tad though.
24 May 2010 by Mal
Reminds me of the time when The headmaster decided to build his new house on our ninth green (Something to do with the view over the valley to Canterbury Cathedral I thought) I said he could build the house if he didn't mind the golfers playing through 
Geography is everywhere
24 May 2010 by barry glynn
Charles/Paul
The weather will change as it always does and that will change the surface if there are no covers probably.
Apart from that, as you say Charles, Paul could try leaving a bit more grass on so the ball grips a bit more.
I spent today watering and repairing, bl00dy hot boy!Feel knackered now, I never remember to get enough water down on the rare occasion we get hot weather.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
25 May 2010 by willard
Leave more grass on the track, but keep well groomed. That will also help to keep some moisture in too...
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