University marquee playing key role for England team
LOUGHBOROUGH University is playing a pivotal role in England Cricket’s ambitions to top the ICC’s World Test Championship with a special marquee at the Haselgrave Ground.
A marquee, which covers four pitches of the Haslegrave Ground, measures 15 metres wide and 55 metres long and allows bowlers a full run-up to ensure they can train at maximum intensity. The space is designed to replicate a regular summer outdoor training session.
Loughborough-based ECB Performance Operations Manager Dr Guy Jackson said: “
“Working with Will Relf (Sports Grounds Manager) and his Loughborough team of groundstaff, we’ve experimented over the last few years, and perfected, the ability to maintain grass wickets into the wintera technology now copied elsewhere usually for pre-season training.”
But never has the team attempted to keep ‘the Tent’, as it’s affectionately known, operating for several months, through accumulated knowledge, attention to detail, and the hard work of the Loughborough grounds crew, and never before has this been so critical to the ECB’s ambitions to be the leading Test Cricket nation.
Although the preparation goes on throughout the year, the final pitch preparation is carried out in September, and in early October the external marquee covering was erected with the nets also assembled inside. The pitches are dried using a combination of dehumidifiers, heaters, and lighting rigs to create a warm environment with temperatures inside the venue roughly plus eight degrees to that outside.
The LU grounds team undertake a vigorous daily regime of mowing, rolling, cleaning and repair work, which keeps the pitches in prime condition for international-level cricket practice for Joe Root and his team.
Will Reif said: “This is the only facility of its kind at this time of year and will be the first time anyone has attempted to maintain this level of practice facility through to December.
“We’re extremely proud to be able to produce grass pitches at this time of year and feedback the from England’s players and coaches has been overwhelmingly positive.”
England’s Performance Director Mo Bobat said: “Our relationship with Loughborough University has always been a fantastic model of a mutually beneficial sports partnership. On this occasion, we’re indebted to the University groundstaff for supporting our desire to keep this facility running right up to our January 2 departure for Sri Lanka.
“It’s fair to say that we’ve pushed beyond boundaries with this and having players training on grass in the UK at this time of year could literally be a first for cricket, which is great. The University’s efforts are hugely appreciated by Players and Staff and it’s this type of innovative collaboration that we should all continue to strive for.”