Institute
of Groundsmanship (IOG)
Cricket Course
New Guidlines for
Rolling
February 2009
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New guidelines
launched today by
Cranfield University
and the England and
Wales Cricket Board
(ECB) could save
over 700,000 hours
of cricket pitch
preparation time
across the UK
through more
effective use of
rollers.
The guidelines are
the result of four
years of research by
Cranfield's Centre
for Sports Surface
Technology,
commissioned by the
ECB, which aimed to
develop a scientific
understanding of the
rolling of cricket
pitches in order to
optimise pitch
preparation.
The research marks a
significant shift
from current
practice and
understanding in
cricket.
Chris Wood, ECB
pitches consultant,
said: “This is
research that I'm
pleased to say will
go a long way to
dispel the myths and
legends and instil
sound and economical
rolling practices
for the production
of quality pitches
across all levels of
cricket.”
Working with ECB and
the Institute of
Groundsmanship (IOG),
over 100 groundstaff
across England and
Wales were consulted
throughout the
research process to
identify the scope
for improvement.
Results demonstrated
that in first-class
cricket, the number
of roller passes
over the pitch
ranges from 5 to
280, allowing plenty
of scope for
optimisation.
Dr Iain James,
senior Lecturer and
head of the centre
for Sports Surface
Technology at
Cranfield, said:
“This research will
lead to better
pitches and more
efficient pitch
preparation.
"We calculated that
if all clubs in
England and Wales
were to target their
rolling using these
guidelines, the
reduction in rolling
time with save a
total of over
700,000 hours of
rolling per year and
reduce the carbon
footprint of cricket
by an equivalent of
a small housing
estate. In addition,
there will be cost
savings in terms of
fuel.”
The guidelines,
aimed at both
professional and
volunteer
groundstaff, are
available to
download from
here or the
ECB website