The Sports Turf Association (STA) Victoria held its annual Turf Wicket Pitch Preparation Day on Tuesday September 23 at Wesley College in Glen Waverley, south-east of Melbourne’s CBD. 

In what was an informative and engaging day with more than 120 attendees looking to qualify as cricket curators through the Accredited Cricket Pitch Curators Program, industry experts such as Junction Oval head curator Brad Baptist, Wesley College grounds supervisor Robert Savedra, Melbourne Grammar School’s Joel Crimmins, Craig Johnson and Ernie Gmehling led the level one and level two groups throughout the day.

Some of the level one subjects covered throughout the day included an overview of how to prepare a pitch, marking up a pitch, cutting a pitch, watering of pitch and wicket tables, rolling at different stages of preparation, grassing up the pitch, repairing damaged pitches  , hessian and cover use as well as sodding a pitch.

Level two subjects included overview of pitch soils, cricket pitch characteristics, common issues in cricket pitch management, understanding water and its effect on preparation and play, pitch renovations, winter & spring pitch maintenance, performance attributes, basic sports turf management practices and understanding turf surface performance measurements.

The two groups were given the opportunity to test out some of the machinery used to prepare and maintain cricket pitches such as a variety of rollers and mowers.

STA committee member Steve Cole from Lilydale Instant Lawn, Junction Oval head curator Brad Baptist and Ground Science technical director Ernie Gmehling provided informative talks to the attendees in the upstairs Coates Pavilion function room about various aspects of the turf industry.

For more information on the Accredited Cricket Pitch Curators Program, click here.

Story and pictures by Nick Creely