Bowled over by French trip
Groundsmen from around the first-class counties with the ECB's Chris Kelly, Alan Fordham and Chris Wood Leading groundsmen from around the first-class counties have visited trial grounds in France on a fact-finding mission to discover the latest high-performing grass seed cultivars.
A key visit on the trip was to Les Alleuds, where seed breeder Top Green develops and tests cultivars specifically designed to meet the ever-increasing demands of cricket.
Rigby Taylor, the company’s seed agent in the UK, provides essential feedback from cricket groundsmen that fuels this dedicated research.
Pitches consultant for the ECB, Chris Wood, said: “With TV coverage at matches, players and the public have extremely high expectations and the pitches need to look fantastic all the time. This is what cricket groundsmen are striving to achieve.
“Twenty-five years ago we did not consider grass seed cultivars and that is how things have changed dramatically.”
Lively discussions on current issues relating to pitch performance took place at the ECB’s county groundsmen annual meeting, held at the stunning Chateau de Brissac.
Respite from the busy schedule was also enjoyed in nearby Angers, together with wine tasting at the family-owned vineyard of Gresillon.
But it was in the sunshine at the Les Alleuds trial grounds that the group were able to see first-hand the next generation of cultivars aimed at improving disease and stress resistance, which can cope with heavy wear.
Taking 13 years to develop, an overview was given of how new cultivars evolve, starting with bringing on individual plants in the nursery to the development of clones, followed by a polycross made from three to five different parents.
Extensive variety trials then follow and finally three years of official site trials to ensure the plant is distinct, uniform and stable. This dedicated programme has led to the introduction of top-rating perennial ryegrass cultivar Ace, Greenway and Tucson.
Marketing manager for Top Green, Stephen Alderton, said: “Some ryegrass cultivars have revolutionized cricket outfields. Greenflash is a prime example as it has exceptional wear resistance but its slow re-growth characteristics means it produces significantly less clippings.
“Groundsmen should also look at using a rhizomatous tall fescue cultivar on the outfield as it has much deeper rooting, making the turfgrass more drought tolerant.”
Grass seed development manager for Rigby Taylor, Stephen Denton, added: “From our point of view it is vital we continue to listen to the cricket groundsmen and their requirements going into the future.
“Following discussions with the group it became clear they would welcome a deeper rooting grass with faster respiration to help dry the wickets.
“Priority will now be given to this in our research and development programme.”
Opinion Poll
Who will win the first npower Test Series of summer 2008?