Cricket Forum | Cricket Discussion Forum | Cricket : Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/ This is an XML content feed of; Cricket Forum | Cricket Discussion Forum | Cricket : Groundcare : Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Sun, 26 May 2013 09:06:58 +0000 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:09:16 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.71 360 www.cricketworld.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=5275 Cricket Forum | Cricket Discussion Forum | Cricket http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_images/logo.png http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/ Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : There has been a lot of horror... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=216146#216146 Author: Groundie
Subject: 5275
Posted: 14 July 2011 at 7:09am

There has been a lot of horror stories lately surrounding groundsmen coming under enormous pressure from captains/coaches/ceo's to produce certain surfaces and also cases where the groundsman has been overruled, pitches too green, pitches too used. Pitch marks are dropping yet clubs feel justified because they are getting results.
]]> Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:09:16 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=216146#216146 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : I like home advantage, makes the... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212991#212991 Author: spin wizard
Subject: 5275
Posted: 21 February 2011 at 2:53am

I like home advantage, makes the game spicier.  What's sweeter than seeing your team go in alien conditions and hammering the living daylight out of the opposition?  It's what makes a sportsman/team champions, they win no matter what!  Australian easily beat India in 2004, ran through Pakistan, Sri Lanka, SA, WI, England - everyone in their own backyard!

]]> Mon, 21 Feb 2011 02:53:39 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212991#212991 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : Welcome yogibear, good to have... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212987#212987 Author: Groundie
Subject: 5275
Posted: 20 February 2011 at 9:19am

Welcome yogibear, good to have you on board. I now see why you were so annoyed at what you heard was said.
It would be extremely surprising if any club was going to stand alongside it's groundsman in a panel meeting, for fear of a financial hammering.
The toss is a crucial part of the game and to take it away would be to dilute the contest, similar to one bouncer per over.
Groundsmen employed by the governing body would do away with home advantage overnight, yet everyone puts up countless reasons why this shouldn't happen, few of which have any teeth.
Surrey won the championship and the pitches award for years recently, why should groundsmen have to assist teams which are not good enough to win championships? Problem is which is more important the groundsmans respect for winning the pitches award or his respect from his team? Rarely will the two go together.]]> Sun, 20 Feb 2011 09:19:06 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212987#212987 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : Wakey, wakey boysIn the first... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212977#212977 Author: yogibear
Subject: 5275
Posted: 19 February 2011 at 2:45pm

Wakey, wakey boys
In the first class game, if players can be banned, heavily fined, for what is titled match fixing, how long do you think it will be before groundsmen get sucked into the fixing argument.
It will only take one person to start a campaign, high lighting to the media that this kind of home advantage  is taking place on a regular basis. The ECB currently sit on the fence, they know its happening, but whilst thier guide lines state, that a  pitch should be manufactured to produce a fair competition between bat and ball. luckily that gives enough leeway to tweak a pitch one way or another, with out a cry of cheating.
Umpires, PL officers, decide when a pitch is deemed a poor pitch, pitch panels called, and a kangaroo style court takes place. I believe it is at this point when you learn whether your own club officials like you enough to back you, or not. You can bet your bottom dollar that if they do not back you at this stage of proceedings that you will be looking for a new job pretty soon.
One way of discouraging the home advantage, shall we call it tweaking, would be to do away with the toss and invite the away team to have the choice of bat or bowl first.
If the points marking system conducted by the umpires were to be not used, then a grounds man would not have the additional pressure of deciding if he wants to be in the running for top marks at the end of a season, giving him a chance of grounds man of the year, or seeking the angle of home advantage, to which case the pitch marks will suffer and you can kiss good bye to the prize money that goes with the title of grounds man of the year, but in turn your club secures the title, with a hefty bonus for the club and players, and a tray of John Smiths for you and your boys to share.
]]> Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:45:00 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212977#212977 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : I think Cricket would be duller... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212942#212942 Author: spin wizard
Subject: 5275
Posted: 17 February 2011 at 12:57pm

I think Cricket would be duller if we saw the same pitches all the time, that's why I like how pitches differ by the country you go to or even venues.  Cricket is a test of one skills and character, you got to learn to take the bounce, the turn, the pace etc if you want to be ranked the best.]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 12:57:03 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212942#212942 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : I think it would be a good idea... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212938#212938 Author: Doctor
Subject: 5275
Posted: 17 February 2011 at 11:25am

I think it would be a good idea to have groundsmen employed by the governing body in each country - like umpires are - a level playing field, literally, could be maintained and an even contest between bat and ball would result.]]> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:25:40 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212938#212938 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : True, if the groundsman is employed... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212923#212923 Author: spin wizard
Subject: 5275
Posted: 16 February 2011 at 3:33pm

True, if the groundsman is employed by the governing body, he should produce a fair one.  Me and me bro and another team mate have done pitch preparation already, we did doctor the pitches but has never been way out of hand.  Sometimes we would pull the matting very stiff against the weaker sides and not that stiff when we meet guys with faster bowlers.  That's still within proper playing surfaces.]]> Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:33:31 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212923#212923 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : If however the groundsmen were... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212921#212921 Author: Groundie
Subject: 5275
Posted: 16 February 2011 at 1:11pm

If however the groundsmen were employed by the governing body, home advantage should be reduced, making for a much more level playing field. Would also stop those employers from doing away with staff who they don't like.]]> Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:11:08 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212921#212921 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : Sledger is spot on here, nothing... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212919#212919 Author: spin wizard
Subject: 5275
Posted: 16 February 2011 at 12:48pm

Sledger is spot on here, nothing wrong with doctoring pitches to suit your team but when going to the extreme, that's wrong, like India against SA.  Even Harris was turning the ball square on that pitch, which alone gives you an indication of how it was.]]> Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:48:56 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212919#212919 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : Preparing a wicket to suit your... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212910#212910 Author: Sledger
Subject: 5275
Posted: 16 February 2011 at 6:14am

Preparing a wicket to suit your own attack makes perfect sense to me , but it must be tempered with caution.  If your attack is predominantly a seaming one , then leave some grass on. Alternatively if you have some decent tweakers , then a dry pitch with some bounce has to be the way to go.   What isn't okay is when the preparation is pushed to extremes and the wicket turns square on day one or some average trundler is completely unplayable - that's just not cricket and the ECB rightly comes down on such dodgy pitches with hefty fines.
              Groundie is right , the curator is an employee of the club and his directive must be to make sure he's on their side - if they're winning , then so is he.
]]> Wed, 16 Feb 2011 06:14:09 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212910#212910 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : They should not be pressured,... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212906#212906 Author: spin wizard
Subject: 5275
Posted: 15 February 2011 at 11:24pm

They should not be pressured, however, if asked by the home team to doctor the pitch to favour them, they should do it.]]> Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:24:31 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212906#212906 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : Hi Doctor, One needs to remember... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212898#212898 Author: Groundie
Subject: 5275
Posted: 15 February 2011 at 1:56pm

Hi Doctor,
One needs to remember who the groundsmans paymaster is, that being the club, who employs him. If he constantly refuses to accept direction from his "superiors", then he runs the risk of losing his job. Whilst many will not agree to this practise, they will have to go along with it. Also in this age of two divisions, there are financial benefits to be gained by getting the teams to the top. Home advantage or cheating? A very fine line.
Whether it is OK or not for the groundsman to be pressured, the fact is that it happens and has for years.]]> Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:56:41 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212898#212898 Is a county groundsmans' lot a happy one? : I have recently been discussing... http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212890#212890 Author: Doctor
Subject: 5275
Posted: 15 February 2011 at 11:32am

I have recently been discussing the pressures a county groundsman comes under when preparing the pitch/wicket for upcoming matches in the UK.
 
There may be pressure put upon them to gain some home advantage by preparing the pitch/wicket to take spin or bounce or sideways movement - this pressure can be exerted by the coach, captain or even the ceo.
 
Is this right? Should a groundsman be allowed to prepare a pitch/wicket to the best of their ability for a fair contest between bat and ball, or is it OK for them to be pressured to gain some advantage for the home team?
]]> Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:32:48 +0000 http://www.cricketworld.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5275&PID=212890#212890