How do you prepare
a strip for play?
1. We generally use alternate
strips, often beginning with strip 8 (the furthest from the plastic
strip) and continuing 8-6-4-2-7-5-3-1. This year we began on strip
one and will continue 1-3-5-7-2-4-6-8. Bear in mind that Saturdays
& Sundays require some 32 games of cricket on a square with
8 strips, so four games of cricket per strip. We may re-use an
older strip if wet weather threatens, rather than risk cutting
up a new strip and not getting four games from it.
2. We begin rolling up
to three weeks in advance of use, allowing us to prepare the flat
pitches you have become used to.
3. We begin cutting (shaving)
the pitch up to a week in advance, to allow the sun & wind
to dry out the pitch as much as possible.
4. Before the game, the
pitch is shaved finally, up and down on the same piece of grass,
gradually working across the full ten foot width. This continues
whilst our shaver mower continues to pick up grass. It isn't normally
necessary to change the settings on our mower as it is usually
set at the right depth of cut. This is followed by a final rolling
to "polish" the surface.
5. Three strings with
pegs are now required. Imagine standing on the pitch, facing one
end. The corners of the pitch are shown by the "T" shaped
markers. One string should cross the pitch and run along the bottom
edge of the cross-bar on each "T" (use the next T shapes
along each side to position the string). Repeat this exercise
at the other end with the second string.
6. The third string marks
the middle of the ten-foot width. It begins behind the stumps,
crosses both of the other strings and ends behind the stumps at
the other end.
7. The first two strings
are 21yds 2ft 11ins apart (one inch short of the 22 yds required).
The marking frame is placed on one end level with the string and
centralised on the strip, so a half-inch line painted outside
the frame will complete the 22 yds to the back edge of the line
at each end. Note that although the string runs along the back
edge of the frame on the outside, we always paint around the outside
of the frame. Also painted are the position of the third string
(middle stump) and two marks each 1 foot from middle stump to
help the umpires decide about running onto the forbidden area
of the pitch. The frame is removed and laid down, OFF the square.
A straight edge is used to fill the gaps and extend the creases,
to at least their minimum width.
8. A mark is made on the
edge of the cut, five feet in front of the crease, again to help
the umpires decide about running onto the forbidden area of the
pitch.
9. Finally, stump holes
are made in the back edge of the line painted along the string.
10. The process is repeated
at the other end and the strip is ready for play.
What happens to a strip after it has been used?
1. The strip is swept
using a stiff brush. The direction of sweeping is from the middle
of the strip towards the ends, not across the strip. This will
clear all debris from the strip, in particular it is important
to clear wood shavings used in wet weather as these will blunt
the mower leading to an expensive re-grind (sharpening) or even
replacement of the cylinder & bottom blade. Sweepings are
collected and dumped along with our grass cuttings.
2. Ideally, the strip
should now be spiked to aerate the grass roots following all of
the rolling used to prepare for play.
3. It is possible to fertilise
the strip at this point. When using spring & summer fertiliser,
it is necessary to water well if extensive rain doesn't fall within
three days. This will encourage re-growth of the grass previously
shaved for play. Failure to water will "burn" the grass
and cause problems later.
4. The worn patches on
the ends will need to be mended. The bare patches should be wet
(watered or after rain) and a rake, sorrel roller or similar used
to prepare a seed bed by roughing the surface. Seed is spread
at the recommended rate and loam used to fill foot-holes and cover
up the seed. The whole should be kept wet for a week or so to
enable seed germination to take place. The repaired area should
not be fertilised for a couple of weeks until the young plants
are established, since use of fertiliser will promote green growth
and lead to soft plants susceptible to infections, both fungal,
virus and bacterial.
5. The strip is
left uncut for a couple of weeks or so, to allow seed to germinate
& get established and allow grass to re-grow following shaving
for play. When sufficient growth has occurred, the strip is cut
as part of the general maintenance of the square once again.
Dave Nattrass
ANY QUESTIONS?
If you have any
questions concerning the ground or square please email me at:
d.nattrass3@ntlworld.com and I'll try to answer them here.
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