2 Jun 2011 by lez
Does anyone else suffer from players gouging lines into the outfield and putting a bloody big X on the square does my head in. Even seen a bowler scratch a line then put the bowlers marker down. not a happy bunny at all......
Using a marker and scratching is normal unfortunately but you can count yourself lucky they ve used anmarker at all.
Why not try putting notices in both changing rooms and , if you have one, in the umpires room?
It may just work now and then.
If i see anyone marking the square, i go apesh1t at them.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
Cricketer's disrespect of groundsmen never ceases to amaze me.
I also blame some of the mindless coaches who brainwash these guys into making a mark wherever they field.
That and batsmen digging a hole you could bury a horse in.
The other day I watched a fielder at point make an X that was 2 feet across. Just 1 ball later he was moved a yard to his right ... and he made another X.
I've played cricket for 30 years and I've opened the batting at 1st team level. In all the times I've asked for a guard I've never had to move my bat more than a few mm as the umpire has guided me. So what is the point in a groove that is 6 inches wide and 3 feet long and 3 inches deep?
I especially love the junior mid week games, where 10 year old little Johnny is bored out of his t!ts, so he entertains himself doing 'spins' with his brand new boots on a length on Saturdays' new 1st team track.
... and how about the 1st team who visited our ground and before the game their coach was rolling balls across our square and had his players doing slide,turn and throw exercises. He had both barrels.
... visiting bowlers who warm up on the square on old tracks with repaired ends ...
I need a tablet and a lie down!
Skires
1st team captain decided earlier in the week that he wanted the old used track for todays game, and not the nice new pristine track that we had prepared over the last two weeks?
So this morning, as asked, took off all the grass I could, repaired the worst of the footholes, rolled and marked the old wicket.
Went to the 3rd/4th square to prepare that and got back to ground at 12.00. What do I find? The practice cage on the square over the perfectly prepared new match wicket and the first team having a net on it.
I was, and still am, fuming. i am a mild quiet guy but the 1st team skip could see that I was not impressed when we exchanged views on the subject.
Ste
Don't talk to me about Contractors Wonka, I am one myself......
"Does anyone else suffer from players gouging lines into the outfield and putting a bloody big X on the square"
Yes Lez we all do and it is entirely due to ignorance and lack of training, as youngsters, from coaches.
I could go on, as i have done in the past, but it is becoming pointless because we are the converted. But have a word with the coaches and ask them to instruct their charges in etiquette and respect for the turf they play on.
Steve's experience today is crass and i don't think our lads would do such a thing. (Says me with all digits crossed)
Chris
"He not busy being born is busy dying"
As an examplar today
Visitors decided to train over the square today. Why, what for? Easy solution. I always mow the square between 11 and 12 on the Saturday if conditions allow to give the most effective stripey appearance. With the motor running noone can tell me anything. Start where they're practising and when they move somewhere else move to where they are and make some height adjustments in their eyeline. Then start mowing there. They then move to where you were before, you do the same. For F**KS sake we provide two cages and one turf net track prior to the start of a match, why do they need to scrape up the whole square.
Just keep mowing at 12 o'clock that f**cks them off onto the outfield, especially if you leave some unimportant looking machinery in selected places on the square until 1pm. I wish they'd all revert to those old twee rugby ball exercises of a few years ago where they could all run around and have a laugh.
As to bowlers marks, we put out small plastic markers. In midweek the offenders are offered an old paint container with loam and seed to relevel their marks. Those bowlers are known. In the past I have offered to measure the bowlers marks with a tape and paint them down which was an effective and positive move.
4 Jun 2011 by mackay
I find it irritating, but have given up worrying about it and now accept it as normal wear and tear (marks on the square remain unacceptable of course) - it's either that or get an ulcer. It's no better at First Class level where all bowlers routinely measure their run ups and make marks with the paint provided only to then scratch a big line/mark before placing the bowling marker down on top.
As I say, I've given up worrying about it (and scratching in the crease area by batsmen) and just accept it as one of the repairs to be made after a game. I recommend others do the same for the sake of your sanity.
5 Jun 2011 by eddyinfreehold Last edited 5 Jun 2011
Mackay: Good comment. However as amateurs expected to improve and improve again upon facilities and ground, these people are doing us no favours. The regulators are expecting amateurs to be producing more and more professional facilities with no additional financial input. It is very hard. As the drinks bottles go on next time, I will be running on with a bucket of mixed loam and seed for the bowler. At least it will look good!!!!
Steve63. I think our 2nds are down at your place tomorrow Sunday. Totally demoralised after today when they fell 70 short of a target batting first they need sympathy. Give them a bit of TLC as you eliminate them!
When i ran up and bowled, i always used a marker. I took my own one with me and i never had the need to mark it out with my boot. Its totally unecessary and unthinking.
I make an effort to repair it but come about mid season i get hissed off with it.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
5 Jun 2011 by jlawrence Last edited 5 Jun 2011
I rarely if ever repair bowlers' run up marks. By the end of the season it's impossible to see where your run up starts without using a marker - I hope eventually it'll sink in though I have my doubts.
As for little johnny spinning around. A sharp shout from the boundary at the coach works wonders - "sort your fielders out or that'll be the last grass track you play on at this ground" tends to get results :).
I don't have a problem at all with the 1st/2nd teams warming up on the square - a supposed directive from the league put an end to that. I've never seen the directive but apparently they can lose points if the umpires see them warming up on the square prior to the game starting so none of them do it.
On the other ground it's a different matter - they insist on bowling practice on my U11 track. The skipper will get a simple lecture this week - do it again and I can guarantee you a nightmare of a track to play on next week cos my 50 U11's will be netting on your match track in future. They'll get the message that's for sure :)
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
5 Jun 2011 by mackay
Eddy, Steve and Lez - Did you know you're all from the same area? And I started working with Lez and later used to look after St Annes and Blackpool CC? What a small world.
Yes Eddy
Im similar in thar im down there when oppos turn up. Home players are now trained.
If any oppo try thier luck, they are quickly put right.
But the arrogance and ignorance can be astounding at times.
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
I fully endorse the frustrations of bowler/fielder damage but I'm even more incensed by the batsmen with a dose of the "Trotts" which has become an plague! Well perpared hard league pitch to Minor Counties standard at my ground are being vandaised by scratching after every ball creating a deep hole because they are not using one stud but the whole front set and insult to injury is keepers scratching hell behind the stumps again after every ball. Come on guys if we all complain loud enough we could get this banned or umpires empowered to impose penalty runs against offenders.
I do my bit if i see someone doing, its all about " education".
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
I have the same attitude as Andy Mack, it did irritate me in the past, could'nt care a damn now, never seems to be a problem, repairs easy, grooves are good for planting seed in. Far greater things in life to worry about. Remember, we prepare pitches to the best of our ability for players to play well on. If it looks pretty as well then great, but that is not what we set out to achieve.
we have the same problem from our u13 side they are lucky to have two squares both with 5wkts on each and over the last two seasons they have had a new coach and every were over the outfield you have got crosses marked and its the fact that the marks go down at least 1inc and the week before last we found someone had scraped a foot mark right in the middle of the track their have been words but the sports staff seem to think that they are untouchable and its depressing but what can you do .
Well jon and gordon, i am not having kids scraping unecessary holes everywhere and do not see why adults should do it either.
Would you think it ok for golfers never to be told to repairs divots?
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
Having read again Barry, i do go mad with crosses on square etc, but in the outfield, no.
Ive got no problem repairing ends etc, thats my job. But gouging unecessary great lines and "t"s on bowling marks is not necessary and in club cricket makes for an even more bumpy outfield.
Of course, looney tunes Jonathan Trott isnt helping!
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
When it comes to batting marks, it doesn't really make the slightest bit of difference if it's a long mark or a short mark - I repair shallow or deep marks so there's always something to repair. If anything the deeper the better as I find deep ones easier to fix up.
As with Grassman, I don't really care about marks on the outfield, the square is a completely different matter.
At the end of the season I'll fill the bowling marks in the outfield but not during the season unless I think one's especially dangerous.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
Well i try and fill the outfield marks, they can all be dangerous
What do I do? I just cut the grass.
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