In something of a repeat of last year, the wet weather has played havoc with pitch makers who face the usual race to be ready for April fixtures.
In 2023, my article on Yorkshire’s leagues postponing fixtures caught the attention, on account of the fact that we’d had record-breaking rain and many clubs had been underwater for long spells.
We may yet have a warm and dry April that enables a redoubling of efforts and all is well.
Of course, some grounds will have been more adversely affected than others based on everything from rainfall and soil composition to basic geography (being on top of a hill can’t hurt, bottom of a valley not so great).
![](https://b2130167.smushcdn.com/2130167/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Grounds-Week24-cricket-yorkshire.jpg?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
![](https://b2130167.smushcdn.com/2130167/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Grounds-Week24-cricket-yorkshire.jpg?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
It’s Grounds Week from 18-24 March; an awareness campaign by the Grounds Management Association to celebrate all those grounds care volunteers and professionals.
The GMA reckons improving existing grass pitches could lead to nearly half a million more children (489,859) playing the game every season. There are other typical challenges too in the industry, with 40% of the workforce over 50 years old and the need for new recruits as prominent as ever.
If finding new faces to mow, roll and rake is a concern, the impact of severe weather is only going to increase. The ECB’s Environmental Sustainability Plan for Cricket points out that ‘the top ten hottest years since UK records began (in 1884) have all been since 2003, including 2022 – the hottest on record and sixth-driest summer – saw temperatures exceed 40°C for the first time.’
If moaning about the weather is a very British pastime, it’s with good reason and club cricket pitches are often affected.
SInce 1998, we’ve had six of the ten wettest years ever recorded and many in Yorkshire and the North recall the Boxing Day floods of 2015 with a clarity and horror as if it were yesterday.
In contrast, I also noticed Jasmine Nicholls, Groundswoman at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, tweeted a photo this week of the team watering the square at Headingley because it’s been covered; reinforcing the extreme variables in cricket pitch maintenance.
I cannot claim to know much about the art and science of preparing a cricket pitch but the same basic principles apply whether you’re at Headingley or in the Nidderdale League.
If it’s been too wet and the ground is boggy or there’s a lake of standing water then pre-season mowing and rolling ain’t gonna happen.
Obviously, the more prep a groundskeeper can do, the better shape that the cricket square and outfield will be in. But with heavy equipment, there’s the balancing act between that magnetic desire to get out and do the work with the risk of making things potentially worse.
The interest in this affects us all. There’s the pride for groundskeepers in wanting to get their grass as ready as possible. By April, players naturally want to get outside and train as well as not wishing to lose any fixtures. For leagues, it’s the nightmare scenario which may not unfold just yet.
In 2023, it was a case of who blinked first and the NYSD set the tone for which all other leagues in Yorkshire followed.
I said at the time, it takes something for a league to postpone a whole round of fixtures. The bigger the league, the more fixtures have to be knitted into a congested schedule often on a Sunday, Bank Holiday or tacked onto the end of the campaign.
Chris Windle is groundsman at Skipton Church Institute CC of the Craven & District Cricket League: “The weather has been extremely frustrating for local groundsmen in the run-up to the start of the season on 20 April.”
He added: “Important pre-season work on the square is out of the question at most grounds in the Craven League due to the incessant rain. As a result, one groundsman at least has raised the possibility of yet another delayed start to the season.”
There’s a full league meeting for all clubs on Monday 25 March, and that’s the opportunity to discuss a contingency plan.
![](https://b2130167.smushcdn.com/2130167/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/undercliffe-cricket-club-ground-cy.jpg?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
![](https://b2130167.smushcdn.com/2130167/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/undercliffe-cricket-club-ground-cy.jpg?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
Meanwhile, David Young, President of the Bradford Premier League, told me:
“It’s been a tough winter for groundspeople. I think it’s the wettest I can remember. But with warmer temperatures things change very quickly. A few days ago, I couldn’t walk on the ground at Undercliffe (above) but today it’s been cut and rolling is underway.”
He added: “At Esholt and Tong Park, although behind where we were last year, we are making progress. No need to panic yet. There’s still four weeks to go and a lot can change in a short period of time.”
As for fixture reshuffling, it’s not come to that yet…
“Postponing has to be a last resort. The fixture list is so congested that finding alternative dates is almost impossible. As ever, the Bradford Premier League will take views from clubs and come to a sensible decision.”
In club cricket, is it fairer to cancel those games rather than postpone them? Leave a comment below. But when has the weather ever cared about fairness in cricket?
Typically, clubs unable to play will share points and leagues are naturally very reluctant to postpone a full round of games and will make that call as late as possible if needed.
We might not need to here in Yorkshire but from speaking to those who tend to their own grassy kingdoms as well as dipping into various Facebook groups, it is definitely a concern in some parts.
A fortnight is a long time in club cricket.
Optimism rises and falls with the sun and the rain. We’ll know soon enough but a shoutout to all those preparing cricket grounds for the season ahead. They do a fantastic job for the rest of us.
![John Fuller](https://b2130167.smushcdn.com/2130167/wp-content/wphb-cache/gravatar/f5c/f5c584772d0ddc1d9a122dae8548ddbax250.jpg?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)