How Can You Prepare The Perfect Wicket?

You can’t just get the mower out and start cutting away. Wickets require serious attention to detail.

General Maintenance

As normal for this time of year, cricket squares will require a lot of time management, scarifying, mowing, rolling and marking out; then there is your outfield, which will require mowing, aeration, raking or harrowing to raise the sward.

It is not necessarily about how much pre-season rolling you carry out, it is ensuring that the rolling is undertaken during optimum conditions by having enough moisture in the soil profile to allow for good consolidation.

Ensure your machinery and equipment is serviced, in good condition and ready for use.

Wicket Preparations

Pitch preparation should start 10-12 days prior to the match. Following the guidelines below will help you achieve a good standard of pitch. Most groundsmen will have their own interpretation of these activities. Marking out the crease should be done with care, using frames or string to help achieve clear, straight lines.

DAY 1

String out pitch lines to ensure correct width, 10 ft; Mow out at 8mm. Always double mow (up and down the same line), using an eight-bladed pedestrian cylinder mower for maintaining the square. Test the pitch with a key or knife for moisture.

DAY 2

Brush / light rake, mow at 8 mm, light roll to consolidate surface levels.

DAY 3

Scarify or Verti cut to remove lateral growth and surface thatch avoiding deep surface disturbance. Reduce HOC & mow at 7 mm. Continue medium light rolling 1,000 kg for 10-15 minutes.

DAY 4

Roll pitches, increasing roller weight to consolidate the surface.

DAY 5

Scarify with hand rake to raise sword after rolling. Reduce HOC to 6mm

DAY 6

20-30 minute’s with heavy roller.

DAY 7