The science of wicket soil

What makes Australia such a good place to play cricket?

What makes a good soil for playing cricket – and why is so much work poured into getting the pitch right?

“Cricket wickets are a combination of science and art,” says Jock Churchman, soil science expert from the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia.

All sports played on turf have preferred soils for the activity, and plenty of work is done to maintain this soil. But cricket pitches, which play such a big role in the outcome of a match, present some of the most interesting and complicated soil science problems.

“In most sports, the main object of the soil is to provide good drainage,” says Churchman. “But it’s almost the opposite in cricket.”

“It’s got to be mouldable,” says Churchman. “And it’s got to be able to be flattened with rollers of course, and still maintain its integrity.”

Finding a soil that is malleable enough when wet, but hard when dry, is a tricky task. Soils with high clay content are crucial, and in Australia, a particular type of clay called “swelling clay” is best.

“Swelling clay soil maintains its integrity,” says Churchman. “It only cracks, it doesn’t curl up. In other kinds of soil, when they dry, the particles curl up and that’s not a good thing when you’re trying to get a consistent bounce of the ball.”

Swelling clay isn’t as effective in damper climates like the UK and NZ.

With the drier climate in Australia, it leads to something of an advantage for our grounds.