SPARE A THOUGHT…

The trees are distressed, the grass is distressed and the groundsman has every reason to be likewise.  The recent heatwave conditions have challenged all walks of life including curators of cricket grounds.

“All the focus is on the square” explains Josh, Malahide groundsman which means the parched outfield and the practice wickets must play second fiddle. The effect is that all the dwindling water resources are dedicated to the square.  Despite the thousands of litres that have been hosed onto the square since early season in addition to rainfall the grass has lost its sheen. “There is very little growth” confirms Josh.  

Water is struggling to seep down to the roots through the dry, hard surface.  The local council help with access to water bowsers which replenish the underground water tanks that are fed by the outfield drainage system but the reality is that there just is not enough water to go around.

Covering wickets overnight with tarpaulins creates some moisture but this measure has only a limited effect and also constant sweating of the pitch can spread fungal disease.  Also, the use of hybrid wickets assist but they too are affected by the lack of water.

Inevitably, cracks have started to appear on the square although we are not quite at the stage where Tony Grieg famously lost his hotel key in a crack during a pitch inspection at the WACA in Perth much to the amusement of his fellow broadcasters!

There is no magic solution here except constant monitoring of conditions, careful management of water resources and the hope that the precious resource that is rain will soon fall in buckets.