Edgbaston Head Groundsman Discusses Demands
Of growing cricket calandar
PICTURED ABOVE: Gary Barwell talking to fellow grounds staff at Edgbaston
Gary Barwell has explained how the groundstaff at Edgbaston Stadium manage an increasingly busy schedule, and why he believes cricket needs to rethink its summer calendar.
Edgbaston Stadium has more than doubled its annual match-day commitments since Garybecame head of sports turf in 2011, with the venue now regularly hosting 48 days of cricket each year.
The schedule includes international men’s and women’s fixtures, domestic competitions and The Hundred, leaving the groundstaff with less time between matches to prepare the playing surface.
“To say we’ve virtually doubled – and a bit more – in just the time I’ve been here shows how unbelievably busy we are,” said Gary.
Maintaining consistent pitch quality involves regular monitoring, with the team using moisture probes and Clegg readings to assess conditions, alongside a programme of fertiliser applications and the management of wetting agents and micronutrients.
“In my opinion, a data-driven approach should be the foundation of any good turf management strategy,” he said.
The demands of a busy calendar can also take their toll on the people responsible for preparing the ground. Gary recalled one particularly demanding period when Edgbaston hosted a Test match, followed by an England versus India one-day international and then T20 Finals Day just three days later.
At the time, he felt the Finals Day pitch wasn’t quite right, but looking back, he believes it was probably one of the best the team had produced.
“Because I was mentally exhausted, everything that was a millimetre out of place was an inch,” he said.
Looking ahead, Barwell believes the wider cricket calendar needs attention to ensure the game remains manageable for everyone involved.
“Currently, I think cricket around the country is at saturation point. We need to have a complete reset of how the summer looks so that we can deliver everything for everyone, but in a more manageable way,” he said.
He believes any rethink should take account of players, groundstaff, operations teams and spectators.
Gary also highlighted the role of machinery in helping his team meet its commitments, praising the ease of use of the Dennis mowers at Edgbaston, which he said allowed new staff to become proficient quickly.
