Message Board - Cricket: If anybody wonders why we do what we do
3 Jun 2010 by Minormorris64
Pictures say it a lot easier than words
108 hours this season so far
But when it looks like that it could almost
What goes around, comes around
3 Jun 2010 by Minormorris64
Ditto
What goes around, comes around
3 Jun 2010 by Minormorris64
Ditto
What goes around, comes around
3 Jun 2010 by mr wood
Damn that really is something to be proud of and to be honest 5-7 years ago i wouldnt of cared but after looking after football pitch and helping with the cricket pitch on and off where i am in cambridgeshire then i know how much hard work, and time is taken to get sports grounds in this condition so hats off to you........
i just need to find a trainee job or i ll do some courses myself to boost my chances
3 Jun 2010 by Andy Matthews
An excellent effort Steve it looks lovely there's nothing like turning the whole ground out looking right, I get to stripe an outfield and a square but at different locations, the council won't let us look after the outfield at the club where I do the square, still I had similar feelings to you today when I had done the square it looked lovely.
4 Jun 2010 by Mike
Hats off to both of you - both grounds look fantastic!
Here's one of mine... early days yet doing things my way, but we are starting to see some improvement.
4 Jun 2010 by mario
..................and mine!
Oh what a difference a few days of decent weather makes!!
I know no boundaries.
5 Jun 2010 by Minormorris64
Very smart Kenny.
Mind you its all very well mine looking like that, if it plays like it looks today I will then be properly happy.
We (1st XI) are 6th at the moment, playing top of the League who are scoring runs for fun.
What goes around, comes around
6 Jun 2010 by James Horrocks
Looking very good indeed chaps! Well done!
Andy, hope you`re well, i see your square is cut/striped the opposite way to your tracks.... is this for any reason, or just cosmetic???
I`m in my 3rd season now on my square and had the best compliment yet this sat. The opposition captain said our track was better than theirs usually is and they have a full time groundsman and another guy commented, one of the best "village" cricket squares he`s seen. hard graft, time and great advice from everyone on here to thank!
Cheers, James.
6 Jun 2010 by Andy Matthews
I am well James, it sounds like the Dennis is doing a good job along with all your hard work, I cut the square both ways, but the last cut of the week is always crossways because thats in line with the pavilion and the car park, so yes to a certain extent it's cosmetic as thats the first view people get when they arrive, really all striping is cosmetic but presentation is important to us as this thread proves.
7 Jun 2010 by Minormorris64
We managed 215-7 (with 76 coming off the last 7 overs), the League leaders managed 175-7 off their 45 overs.
But didn't play quite as well as I would have liked, but you can't have everything (did manage 4-41 though 
)
What goes around, comes around
7 Jun 2010 by Andy Matthews
Always room for the dibbly bobblers eh Steve, I took 4-17, which got the usual comments of the skipper nipping in for the rabbits at the end, my perogative I think , our firsts where at home and where given 244 to chase and it finished in a tie, you don't many of them.
8 Jun 2010 by supersonic
This was a couple of weeks ago..lots of hard work but when it turns out like this its well worth it...
8 Jun 2010 by James Horrocks
That looks absoutely fantastic supersonic... top man!
8 Jun 2010 by Grassman2011
Well worth showing off super. Are you paid full time/part time or volunteer ?
8 Jun 2010 by supersonic
Bath...Yes a very full time Public school groundsman..
8 Jun 2010 by jlawrence
Mine from the first league match of the season.
Shame about the slight green tinge to the track. Such a difference from last year.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
11 Jun 2010 by wicketdevil
Mine this morning after 2 inches of rain last night in 4 hours. Not much hope for tomorrow left it un covered now. Ian
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
11 Jun 2010 by Grassman2011
Is that actually grass on your square JL ? Now thats a novelty.
How is it al going ? Looks as if last Saturday runs may have been hard to come by, but plenty on Sunday. Same track or another one ? If another one what was the difference ? If same one what why the difference ? It will be interesting to hear your thoughts.
All that hard work wasted wicket devil.
13 Jun 2010 by jlawrence
Exact same track.
Difference was amazingly simple - decent bowling on Saturday, crap on Sunday. Your lads bowled very well on the Saturday - it was commented by a few watchers that it's been years since they've seen an opening bowling partnership as quick and accurate.
It wasn't easy to try and control the drying of that track as I had corners on the square all week during the day and games almost every evening :(. I'll settle for a 13 given that I couldn't keep the sun off it at all - nor could I get any water on the rest of the square which was like concrete.
I think on the Sunday both Bridgy and us had at least 5 2nd team playing - which makes a big difference. I reckon the bowlers on the Saturday had at least 2yds on the ones bowling on sunday.
Used the same track again this week for the 2nds, if anything it played even better - not that you'd know by the scores. It was a pleasure to keep on - but I paid the price for those extra 5 overs, I could hardly move this morning.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
13 Jun 2010 by Grassman2011
It is with some pleasure that i read your remarks about our opening attack. Those same bowlers had the opposition 16 for 6 yesterday before getting them all out for 80 odd. We then lost six getting them. That opening attack was very demanding on a bouncy one. Unfortunately, the umpires deemed it inconsistent bounce and i think i may have only got a 13 myself.
Today, same wicket for cockspur 20/20, playing your friends from across the road, we bat first and were going at 11 an over when i left.
Have not heard yet what the final score was, but what a difference a different attitude can make. Yesterdays apparent minefield was a belter today. If only the umps could have marked it today !!
14 Jun 2010 by jlawrence
It's weird how attitude changes things.
This sat I had to play 2's - we were that short. 2nds keeper dislocated a finger in the 3rd over, bowlers were all over the place. I took over, the bowlers attitude changed to lets see how hard we can hit the 4th team keepers' gloves - bearing in mind I've got a fractured knuckle :). Ended up really easy to keep on - bowlers weren't that impressed when I stood up to them though LOL.
There's always one or two that keep a little low and those stand out even more if the bowlers are bowling slightly back of a length and generally getting plenty of bounce. Umpires (and players alike) always remember those balls. We had 2 on sat which practically rolled on the floor, both got wickets - 1 for each side, yet no complaints from players as they were the only 2 balls that misbehaved all day.
I've had one bad track this year, though a few players still said there was nothing wrong with it, where on the new track the plates were moving that much I had to change the track on the friday night to a used one - with the 1st skippers agreement. Got a 10 for that one - with a comment from the umpires that it was better than last year.
They seem to prefer some bounce and carry (even if erratic) rather than just consistently low. Personally, as a batsman, I'd prefer consistent any day even if it's only getting knee high.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
14 Jun 2010 by wicketdevil
They did play and it did behave a bit slow your not kidding and it seamed a bit again not a surprise. Mind you head coach said the shot choice is what got the team out not the pitch.
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
17 Jun 2010 by Mike Last edited 17 Jun 2010
Just received the following email from our head of cricket
"Gents,
Without giving you too much praise!!! - The wickets played really well for both MCC games and produced two games of a very high standard!!!
Numerous MCC players commented on how impressed they were (and bare in mind, some of these boys are ex-county players and alot of them have played pro or still are playing pro cricket all over the mainland).
Thought you deserved a pat on the back after what has been a busy week for you!!
Well done lads!"
When you get an email such as that, and consider how much hard work went into preparing those 2 tracks, especially given the numerous difficulties we are currently faced with makes for a very proud groundsman. Aiming for, and receiving such praise is why I never settle for second best.
Mike
18 Jun 2010 by Vic Demain
Mike,
Well done indeed mate, wish all employers used the same management technique as yours. Sometimes a pat on the back is all that is needed to lift the spirits and morale.
Great to hear and read that your efforts are appreciated and indeed noticed.
all power to you and you are right to be proud.
Vic.
18 Jun 2010 by Aintgottaclue!!
looking a bit shabby here!!
I may cut grass, but i'm not green !!
18 Jun 2010 by Vic Demain
Hey Tony,
Never mind mate school will finish shortly and feet up for 8 weeks, time for some golf perhaps?
Vic.
21 Jun 2010 by jlawrence
Well what a weird week.
First I have a nightmare trying to stop my Saturday track turning into the grand canyon, culminating in watering on a Friday - yes, I know it's supposed to be a no no but it had to be done. I heard a few comments from people after the game that they'd never seen a road at Weston - so I assume it played pretty well 
. Skipper was pissed off cos opposition only got 206-2 (weird score imo) and our lads knocked em off for 2 in 40 and wouldn't let him in to bat. I laughed so much I nearly spilled my beer.
It'll be interesting to see what marks I get for that one.
Then I get an email invite down to Taunton for a day out saying that they've had loads of good comments from parents, players and coaches from the couple of county stuff we've hosted so far.
Not used to getting one thankyou never mind 2 in as many days. It's things like that which make it all worth while.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
21 Jun 2010 by MAVO
Always nice to get positive feedback from players,coaches alike,keep up the good work Jon.
I had to do the same as you and water my pitch on friday,which in the WEPL handbook it says you shouldn't!!
I'd been on holiday for the week,left it in capable hands of my old man!.The pitch had got a bit crumbly in places so i gave it a misting then 20 min roll,turned the pitch into a belter,312 for 7 played 180ao,plenty of bounce for our aussie quick!i,d be peed off it wasn't marked 18 or more!
21 Jun 2010 by jlawrence
I often mist the pitch on thurs/fri. I don't count that as watering ;). I gave it a bit more than a misting, but no where near as much a flooding it. rolled for 30 min friday aft and it turned pretty much into a road.
I can't understand how a team can be 160-2 going into the last 10 and only get 206. If my 4ths ever did that I'd be going mental at them.
A decent score on that track would have been 300 imo.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
22 Jun 2010 by Minormorris64
Happened with us JL, flooded used pitch on Wednesday for 1st XI use on Saturday like a proverbial road (outfield as previously pictured) started superbly 123-0.................... then 183 all out !!
Luckily we bowled the opposition out for 81.
What goes around, comes around
22 Jun 2010 by Aintgottaclue!!
JL, Minor makes me wonder if after starting like a road the pitches then lost pac and or bounce as they baked off? any thoughts??
I may cut grass, but i'm not green !!
22 Jun 2010 by Minormorris64
No loss of pace, our opening bowlers were getting excellent pace and carry out of the track, even bounce all bar a handful of deliveries throughout the game (76 overs).
Used another identically prepared track (same amount watering/ rolling) on Sunday, opposition 142 all out off 40, we collapsed to 26-5 managing 136 all out off 31.2 overs, track played very well, including a 71 run partnership off 7 overs 
(yours truly 27 ).
Its looking like some serious watering this week.
What goes around, comes around
22 Jun 2010 by jlawrence
From what I can gather the track played pretty much the same throughout the match. I've asked a few people what happened with the first innings and no one can explain why they batted the way they did - we can only put it down to them being bowled out for 120odd the week before so deciding not to let the others in. 50 off the last 10 with 8 wickets in hand, and not losing another single wicket, isn't something I expect to see in 1st team cricket. We effectively hammered them - knocking off the target with 15 overs to spare.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
22 Jun 2010 by Grassman2011
Mavo, very well done. I can tell you that you got top marks.
22 Jun 2010 by MAVO
How do you know these things Gordon!!?..i should of asked Les the umpire at the end but we were too busy getting drunk at fines!I was getting ribbed by the boys because my Dad looked after ground while i was away and the pitch was a belter!!
23 Jun 2010 by Grassman2011
It pays to be in the inside sometimes Dave.
24 Jun 2010 by Philmort
What he really meant was he pays to be on the inside, Dave !
(From your WEPL Pitchmark co-ordinator and gillfineturf employee.)
Proud to serve grassroots cricket
24 Jun 2010 by jlawrence
Phil, as co-ordinator, is there any chance they're going to publish the breakdown of the marks whilst we can actually look at any specific problems there might have been with a track.
as discussed preseason, the overall marks alone are as much use as a chocolate fireguard.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
27 Jun 2010 by StewartCh
Here's a pic of the northern meeting park I took on Friday evening after preping the track for the games at the weekend, I'm a lot happier with how its looking but I've still got some weeds to get rid of.
5 Jul 2010 by Minormorris64
A bit of indirect praise in a way this week, opposition won the toss and batted first (our skipper was also going to do the same), they got 214 all out, we managed 197-9, good match, happy groundsman.
What goes around, comes around
5 Jul 2010 by RAM 1
JL I'm with you, I know collating these marks etc is prob a ballache, but finding out you have a problem a month or more after the event doesn't help. Like most of you I guess, I record what I do with each track weekly on 10 day cycle of prep depending on conditions, then havre to try to align that with marks when they come out, and amend accordingly. I had one instance last season when our home 1st team track rec'd a mark of 13 ( averaged 18 all season apart from this one) after a hot week and a very hot saturday, only found out this mark four weeks after season ended, too late to get an answer as to what went wrong.
Phil would be great help if it were possible to get marks sooner, or shall I just ring Gordon every week.LOL
5 Jul 2010 by MAVO
Always thought you were working on the inside Gordon!!
Old bloke did you watch that game that got the mark of 13?
At least then you could of got an idea yourself as to why it got marked down.
I suppose umpires can get the marks wrong as they do frequently with decisions,but we as groundsmen should know our pitches well enough to see if its going to be good or not.
5 Jul 2010 by jlawrence Last edited 5 Jul 2010
I knew full well that my track for Saturday wasn't going to be a good one - it looked well weird - so I made sure the backup was ready as well. Then simply gave the skipper the choice. To both mine, my assistant and the umpires' amazement he chose the new track (without any hesitation).
I rarely get to see how the tracks play so I need to rely on comments from the umpires and players. umpires told me the bounce was variable - especially with the new ball - but that it played a lot better than it looked.
Added:
So far every umpire has told me it is playing way better than it was last season - so at least I know I'm heading in the right direction.
I just wish I could get about 3 times as much water on the square.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
5 Jul 2010 by jontaylor
re watering:- how do you guys do it? I use a mister hose and feel it applies water nice and gently, but this Saturday played on a thoroughly watered square, lots of good green grass, but the track was dry and crumbly. After game I saw the groundsman watering it with a 1" hose with no spreader of any sort, just splashin it all over. Do the great gobs of water just splash up the surface? The unrestricted flow will get more water out there, but at what cost?
Track didn't do me any harm though - 108no and a 19-6 points win.
The ciderman rolls
5 Jul 2010 by MAVO
Captains always go for a new pitch Jl when most of the time the used pitch looks way better!
I still play 1sts so i get to see how pitches perform.If the 2s are at home i always ask a few of the guys who played,more often than not they are complimentry,their only gripe being "why do we always have a used pitch"!!
As for watering i would get more done once the juniors finish their season!!...but by then it'l be smashing it down with rain!
5 Jul 2010 by mario
A hose which produces a fine, mist spray is fine and dandy so long as there isn't a wind!
I tend to water pitches under preparation by hand with a fairly coarse spray gun attached and thereafter cover with a plastic sheet to reduce evaporation and induce percolation.
I know no boundaries.
5 Jul 2010 by RAM 1
Mavo,
no didnt see the game I was away with second team, however on returning to the ground , I asked usual questions of home and oppo skippers , no complaints, one side getting 220 and other 200. Never have managed to see ump's report for the game to see what the issue was.
Hey ho !!!
6 Jul 2010 by MAVO
Bit strange then oldbloke,i can see why you wanted to find out if your usual mark was 18or more.Maybe one of the umpires had a grudge or something!!
I had one last year of 14,the week running up was very wet,by saturday the top was dry,bit of varible bounce but we chased 180 with ease even with their Gloucester opening bowler who was steaming in!
I just thought the umps could of given the fact it was wet underneath a bit more consideration.
6 Jul 2010 by Minormorris64
Same here with the watering, we are fairly exposed if its windy , so its hand watering with a spray gun if thats the case.
Though most recently I have got some of that lay flat hose running the full length of the track which worked real well, able to get on with other jobs and no moving of sprinklers, because with the sprinklers have only got enough pressure to do half a track length at a time.
What goes around, comes around
6 Jul 2010 by jlawrence
lay flat hose is fine when it's not windy - which ain't often here.
Mavo, the problem is that the umpires come from such a wide area they might not even have known it was wet underneath.
last year I had the ECB U15 regional finals on a wednesday (i think) and the umpire actually saw the main square completely under water. we had the same umpire on the saturday and he said had he not seen it during the week he would have been forced to given an aweful mark. the top had dried so fast you still couldn't get a stud into it - bounce ? not a cat in hells chance.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
6 Jul 2010 by MAVO
Thats true Jl they do come from all over the West.
One was from Wiltshire and i told both of them it was pretty wet underneath as i took the stumps out to the pitch.
6 Jul 2010 by MAVO
Thats true Jl they do come from all over the West.
One was from Wiltshire and i told both of them it was pretty wet underneath as i took the stumps out to the pitch.
6 Jul 2010 by wicketdevil
Hi all have had a few complaints this year so worried about sundays wicket 1st innings 303 for 5 in 43 2nd 305 for 4 in 38 think that one passed ok. Ian
Can you just is the longest sentence in the world !!!!!!!
24 Jul 2010 by Mike Last edited 24 Jul 2010
Phew... what a day... what a week... 14 hour shifts are not fun!!
Anyway, first day of the icc u17 division 2 championship - we have 10 games in total spread over 5 days.
First day today, weather was an absolute nightmare... lost count of the amount of times we had to put the covers on and take them off again. Lunch had to be taken before the end of the first innings given the conditions, and Belgium, who were batting second had a nightmare courtesy of the weather and some superb Italian bowling.
Some pics can be seen at http://www.icc-europe.org/EUROU17B/index.shtml
A short match report can be seen here
This is my first time overseeing a tournament - a huge amount of work, and the gods have been against us to say the least, but we were treated to a display of first class cricket by the Italians today, and the atmosphere, despite the conditions was superb!
Mike
Edit: Link for pics doesn't seem to work. Copy and paste link, click on photos on the left menu, then click on Belgium v Italy.
25 Jul 2010 by Vic Demain
Welcome Mike, enjoyable but bloody hard work. How did your staff enjoy it?
25 Jul 2010 by pacman75cricket
Saw pics of uxbridge on skysports news, looked good presme some turn for monty. Sorry I couldn't help out this year.
25 Jul 2010 by Mike
Yes Vic, very hard work over a very long period of time. Lots has gone on in the run up to it... car accident, wicket mower breakdown the day before the first match, poorest weather conditions that we could have had and several other things too. Got the games going though, took an early finish today as its lashing don again... just get an early start tomorrow for the prep, providing the weather holds up.
Will email further details.
Mike
25 Jul 2010 by steven dipple
all ur cricket pitches look amazing, nothing better than some nice looking grass
29 Jul 2010 by Mike
Probably going to cop a lot of stick for this, but nevermind. Interview with yours truly talking about a recent tournament, and what was so special about it. Click here
29 Jul 2010 by Vic Demain
Mike, top job pal well done, pictures look great. A word of warning, I did a similar thing recently and ended up in The Telegraph causing huge amounts of embarrassment.
Vic.
30 Jul 2010 by jlawrence
All publicity is good - even if you get ribbed for it for months/years afterwards.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
30 Jul 2010 by Neil Dixon
Trouble is Jon, lots of us could and would be sacked for speaking to the press, regardless of the content of the interivew.
30 Jul 2010 by Mal
I guess there have been instances of that in the past Neil though I would have thought that it depended on the employer and at what level you were at. For sure Wembley groundsman (hot topic I know) but at a local level school or club etc. I think they would revel in the fact that their groundsman has gained notariaty that may also have given the club or school a bit extra status (provided the interview was positive about the venue which Mike's is).
Geography is everywhere
30 Jul 2010 by Neil Dixon
Hi Mal, to be fair you are correct, the trouble is simple, innocuous things can often be misinterpreted by others and often to the detriment / embarrasment of the organisation you are working for/
Whether someone is talking to the press, local residents or Joe Public, i would always urge on the side of caution, particulary in verbal interviews / conversations.
30 Jul 2010 by Mike Last edited 30 Jul 2010
Neil - I was approached by the tournament director to ask if I could give an interview for the icc website. I passed this request onto my bosses for their consideration - they were delighted with the suggestion, and urged me to do it despite my apprehension, as I am typically extremely nervous in front of a camera.
The fact is that we get very little media coverage over here, and this was one opportunity for us (the island on the whole) to shine. A great deal of people put a massive amount of work into this tournament - I myself can't remember when I last had a day off, and that goes for a great number of people who made this work. The tournament went down an absolute storm, and only positive things have been said about it. The island, and my employers have received massive amounts of praise, and both will hopefully reap massive rewards from this in the future. We have also featured heavily on the bbc throughout the last few days too.
I personally don't see any difference in this as writing an article for the pitchcare magazine for instance. As Mal rightly concludes, if a positive attitude can be portrayed, then why not - does the means of getting getting the message across, be it either by interview, article or post on a message board really matter? We can all be held accountable for what we say in all walks of life, so you either shun all approaches, or you pick and choose your moments to make a statement, and you do your best to portray your employers and yourself in the best manner possible, which I tried, and think succeeded in doing in the interview. If others did wish to try to misinterpret my comments in the interview, then that says a lot more about them than it does about me.
Each case should be judged on it's own merits - in this particular instance, we set a very high standard, and we achieved a standard even higher than we set. Collectively, we deserve the opportunity to take great joy and pride from this achievement, and to display our happiness and satisfaction at a job well done.
Mike
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