Groundsmen
The art of ground maintenance.
Maintaining the pitch and surrounding grounds outfield is much more than mowing the grass and putting on a sprinkler. It is more an art than science, balancing the various environmental conditions including temperature, humidity, soil type, moisture levels and sunlight. These factors determine the types of grasses planted, which collectively create great variability between pitches. Grass pitches can now be grown in hothouses and ‘dropped in’ to the ground ahead of a major match. This allows major stadiums to host different sports events within tight timeframes.
Cricket stadiums and venues around the world are prepared and maintained by trained groundsmen, also called curators. Because the majority of all first-class cricketing venues use grass pitches, they require constant maintenance and specialized care. Teams of groundsmen water, mow and roll the pitch with purpose built ‘rollers’ as well as observing an annual schedule of weed control, adequate drainage, aeration of soil and other essential actions to maintain surface standards.
