A group of 35 groundsmen from around the country attended the opening of the seminar that is aimed at sensitizing them on adjusting their methods of preparation for pitches around the country and more especially the stadium playing squares.
Considering the slow nature of pitches in Guyana, Atkinson last week promised a livelier stadium pitch for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup that begins at the stadium on April 30.
Yesterday, Atkinson said that he will not be too technical but he will be using his 30 years of experience in the field. He said his intention is to impart his knowledge and listen to the questions of fellow groundsmen “so that they may understand the basic principles needed to prepare the pitches according to local conditions.”
“There is a general principle of preparing pitches – they vary depending on the climatic conditions. I will be looking to give you tips on how to make the pitch faster and bouncier,” Atkinson said.
He said that while the surfaces are well kept at the stadium they need a bit more grass. On the other hand, Atkinson said he will be conducting slide shows so the curators will have a visual representation of what is required.
“It is a bit technical since it is all about the fertiliser and the balance you need on the square, the amount of rolling you do for the pitches, the amount of watering and the time you need to prepare the pitches.”
President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh stated that the seminar marks an important milestone in the development process for cricket in Guyana.
He said that curators should not pass up on this course since it is an opportunity for the caretakers from around Guyana to learn a new way. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony reminded the gathering of groundsmen and media operatives that preparation of pitches is no longer “guess work”. He referred to the technical aspects of preparing a square, noting that persons have to be able to follow basic instructions to prepare proper pitches.
“I think that the purpose of this workshop is to get you to understand some of the basic science behind preparing a proper pitch. Once you are able to take that away and go and practice then we will see improvement in our grounds,” the sport minister said.
