Message Board - Cricket: Fit for Play
18 Aug 2010 by Skippy
Hi all.
I am preparing a report to send our association regarding the suitability of a wicket/ground prepared for a recent league match.
I want to provide some opinions from experienced groundsmen as to their opinion on whether the wicket/ground was suitable for play.
The away team said the ground was not in playable condition as was too wet & the wicket wasn't fit to play on.
The home team said it was ok to play on and they had played on worse.
In order for fairness of report I wont name teams or association.
I hope the photos attach ok
Thanks
18 Aug 2010 by Skippy
2nd photo
18 Aug 2010 by Skippy
3rd photo
18 Aug 2010 by Skippy
4th photo
18 Aug 2010 by Skippy
5th photo
18 Aug 2010 by Skippy
6th photo
18 Aug 2010 by Skippy
last photo!
18 Aug 2010 by Teamskew
Struth, holy ****
18 Aug 2010 by jontaylor
Skippy,
Your reluctance to reveal anything regarding the level of the game is understandable, but makes answering harder.
If the match were a Sunday morning pub league fixture then I have seen games played on similar - but that's not to condone the fact.
If this was what might be (snobbily?) called "proper" cricket, then it is very clear that the track has not been prepared appropriately. Clover doesn't grow that much overnight.
What we can't tell from the photos is the state of the deck itself. Weeds on their own do not necessarily make a track dangerous.
What do the league rules say about the pitch requirements?
The ciderman rolls
18 Aug 2010 by A J
I would of thought grass was the main Requirement???
levels don`t look too bad from (photo) Seriously in need of weeds to be sprayed off for a start and a dam good scarifying?
Greenfinger thought he had worries!!!
Grow in grace...........
18 Aug 2010 by Skippy
Jon,
The teams involved would definately call it proper cricket although the standard is by no means professional. It was a mens division 2 match. In the same league there are national league wickets used, if that helps with the playing standard.
From what I understand, the only rule the league has for this level is that it is the responsibility of the home team to provide a suitable pitch. It seems only in division 1 is there an extra requirement.
Part of the rules state: Clubs participating shall take steps to maintain or improve the standard of their grounds in keeping with the League‟s status as a feeder league to the Scottish National Cricket League.
Clubs playing in the First Division of the League must recognise their responsibilities for producing a satisfactory playing surface as well as ensuring that their grounds and facilities are up to an appropriate standard as shall be determined by the Competitions Sub-Committee in its
sole discretion.
18 Aug 2010 by Martin Wythe
That is not a cricket wicket! What preparation? certainly was not cut within 24hrs and the lack of care all round suggests that it will be a poor playing surface! That's with 35 years of senior cricket at varying levels and
nearly 20 years as groundsman both voluntary and paid.
18 Aug 2010 by zoid
I'm assuming you represent the away side skippy?
In which case, if I rolled up on a Saturday and was asked to play on that, I'd be writing a report too!
Unfortunately, no one can say a pitch is dangerous without bowling a few overs on it first. We've all played on some tracks that looked ropey but actually played ok. I wouldn't hold out much hope on this beauty though.
1) Clover is notoriously slippy in wet conditions. Even with studs, I would have some concerns even before trialling the track by means of play.
2) There is no excuse for not dealing with broadleaf weeds. One of which appears to be nicely on a length.
3) The pitch clearly hasn't had any prep on it for at least 48 hours, though you don't say what weather conditions were during that period and whether it would be reasonable to have expected any.
4) The main problem though, is the lack of grass cover as bluecoat has said. Without that and exacerbated by the clover in wet conditions, I would say you were right not to play due to the risks caused by insufficient traction and the potential for extreme variations in bounce.
5) Regardless of the standard played, budget available and whether or not club or council maintained, that square doesn't appear from the evidence available, to be good enough for organised cricket.
18 Aug 2010 by mario
"From what I understand, the only rule the league has for this level is that it is the responsibility of the home team to provide a suitable pitch. It seems only in division 1 is there an extra requirement."
The main problem, as I see it, is the subjective use of the term - suitable pitch.
As a member of Cricket Scotland's Facilities Committee we have strived to lose the subjectivety by using terms which are both objective and achievable in the Scottish National League rules and regulations, however, I equally accept that your feeder league status dictates that you don't have these rules in place.
If your league is promoting the concept of the best clubs aspiring to an upper eschalon, then, perhaps, they need to adopt some of the National League regulations.
I am guessing that there were no umpires to be called upon to give an independent assessment.
I know no boundaries.
19 Aug 2010 by jlawrence
Personally I would say that the track had no preparation at all - other than being marked out.
I thought the tracks I played on in my 4th XI were bad but they look a damn sight better than that.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
19 Aug 2010 by vid
Apart from the obvious zero preparation there is also no indication as to the 10' width of the pitch which also forms part of the rules on encroachment. I do think that even the most flexible of rulings would struggle to accept a cricket strip as acceptible if it has not been mown in its preparation at all. It would also seem doubtful that any rolling was carried out either.
Having said all that was there any play? and if so how did the wicket perform because at the end of the day that is the only way that a ruling will be made against the home team I should imagine.
Is this a council provided pitch - in which case there is nothing the home team could have done except complain to the councils contracts department that the job of pitch preparation had not been carried out.
19 Aug 2010 by Skippy
Zoid - Yes, I am from the away team but was not present on the day.
Mario - Correct, no neutral umpires were present. The decision to play or not to play due to conditions in these circumstances, as the league rules state, is down to the captains of both teams.
Vid - No play started at all. The away captain, after consulting the team, thought the playing surface unsuitable and said they weren't going to play on it.
The ground is council controlled. The weather leading up to the game was such that a wicket could've been produced. The council staff finish work around 3pm on the Friday so no work would be carried out after then. There was heavy rain in the area late on the Friday afternoon/early evening (I was driving through it!) which made the wicket wet for the Saturday.
Thanks for the opinions, they all help.
19 Aug 2010 by A J Last edited 19 Aug 2010
Also,
There are no signs of any play/wear & teare anywhere on - if you can call it a square? Maybe "skippy" can tell us if there were any signs of other wickets had been played on or prepared in this way?
Grow in grace...........
19 Aug 2010 by Chris Thornton
Nice shoes though!!!
"He not busy being born is busy dying"
19 Aug 2010 by RAM 1
Bugger !!! you beat me to it chris.
Desert wellies in pic 5 are better though. Ideal for a damp wicket..
19 Aug 2010 by Chris Thornton
They aint desert wellies! They is bowlers boots! They allus cut the toe caps off!!
"He not busy being born is busy dying"
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