WICKETS Preparation of the Grand Prix within the trail on 3 June 2019

The in-field study undergoes the same turf management conditions which would be seen across other cricket facilities (e.g.; mowing, fertilising, irrigation and rolling). The only difference is to when each pitch is prepared for use. At present the blocks are utilised by elite cricketers every two weeks. FINDINGS Observations made to date by Cricket staff on varietal difference during establishment and preparation include; l AgriDark: Was fast to establish, similar to TifTuf. The hybrid variety has shown to produce less thatch than the other varieties trialled, it has improved winter growth and colour, recovered very well in the footmarks and high wear areas and on within four. Plugging of AgriDark turf within has had very good lateral growth across the bowlers’ footmarks has also shown to The trial was established in the wicket soil. be successful with the variety. Commonly, May 2017 at Field to compare new l Grand Prix: Was slow to establish like OZ other turfgrass varieties do not root or take turfgrass varieties under ground management conditions. Pictured middle is the TifTuf wicket, TUFF and does not have strong lateral sufficiently and are quickly torn out. with OZ TUFF on the left and Legend on the right growth when compared to AgriDark. In June 2019, ASTC collected multiple Recovery was average. soil samples from each of the five turfgrass l Legend: Was also slow to establish and in varieties to undertake comparative organic need of supplementary fertiliser (hungry) matter testing of samples 0-20mm beneath On the even when all five varieties were fertilised the surface. In-house testing was conducted at the same time. Legend also seemed to by ASTC consultants using the loss on have different variants throughout the turf ignition (LOI) method which is by a blast and had the appearance of a patchwork furnace set at 650 degrees Celsius. LOI quilt. is a simple industry-accepted method for l OZ TUFF: Was slow to establish and estimating the content of organic matter and produced a high level of thatch. The pitch carbonate minerals in the rootzone. right wicket was not able to be used for a period of LOI is converted to estimated organic six months due to poor establishment content using the following formulae provided Matt Roche from Australian Sports Turf Consultants writes on a two-year trial of new couchgrass varieties by and ability for the wicket to be prepared. by Ground Science: However, after six months, once the Queensland Cricket to assess their suitability for community clubs. variety was well rooted it performed very Estimated organic content (EOC) = well. The variety was heavily scarified in LOI – ([estimated] clay content x 0.09) The trial was initiated to help provide independent n May 2017, Queensland Cricket The trial was established in May 2017 at The five cricket were constructed Autumn 2019 and it will be interesting advice on new turf varieties to community cricket grounds manager Jarrod Bird embarked Allan Border Field in the suburb of by Rick Shenton of Premier Greenkeeping to to watch its progress come the 2019/20 Test results identified from the clubs who are re-establishing or building a new cricket wicket or block upon a case study to trial and compare Albion. The unreplicated trial was established Queensland Cricket specifications with the summer. representative samples collected, the new and improved turfgrass varieties for within Ray Lindwall Oval to compare new exception of not having a road base layer as l TifTuf: Was fast to establish like AgriDark. wicket soil, as determined by an estimated community cricket clubs to help increase club use on cricket wickets. turfgrass varieties under ground management sandstone was struck during construction. The deck containing the TifTuf variety was clay content of 82 per cent, contained the standards for all players. IThe trial, supported by Queensland conditions, while also providing additional The wicket soil was from Bruce Raleigh of the first to be prepared as an important following amounts of LOI and estimated For further information about this trial Cricket, was initiated to help provide centre wicket (not cricket net) practice for elite Totally Cricket Wickets (Ebenezer, Qld) which trial for its use within (2017 organic content (EOC) within the turfgrass please contact Jarrod Bird. For more details independent advice on new turf varieties cricketers that utilise the facility. is usually 73-82 per cent clay composition. season) following the Adele stadium tour wickets at the time of testing. on the new coughgrass varieties used, visit to community cricket clubs who are and placement of the stage on the field. www.TurfFinder.com. re-establishing or building a new cricket The variety performed very well yet was Turfgrass Variety LOI (%) EOC (%) Wear tolerance and recovery within the bowlers’ wicket or block. Gone are the days of slow to recover particularly within the AgriDark 15 8 footmarks is critical. Photo is of the TifTuf wicket block recommending ‘common couch’ because bowler’s footmarks. Grand Prix 15 8 in early June 2019 what that is exactly these days is debatable. Queensland Cricket had to undertake Legend 12 5 Following input by Australian Sports Turf some repair work to the AgriDark wicket block OZ TUFF 11 4 Consultants (ASTC), Bird chose five different shortly after construction due to the depth of TifTuf 15 7 grasses to trial. These included; the cricket wicket soil in one area. After repair l Three green couch (Cynodon dactylon) work in September, turf replacement was also The study has been well received by varieties Grand Prix, OZ TUFF and undertaken using washed AgriDark supplied community cricket clubs and players who Legend; and by All Turf Solutions. use the world-class facilities located at Allan l Two hybrid couch (C. dactylon x C. Bird was surprised that AgriDark was very Border Field. It not only supports player transvaalensis) varieties AgriDark and Preparation of the final wicket to be planted with OZ OZ TUFF in the foreground and AgriDark far right on 20 fast to establish and was ready for preparation development of elite cricketers throughout TifTuf. TUFF by Queensland Cricket staff in May 2017 September 2018 within 2-3 weeks and could have been played , it also helps to inform grass root

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