Photo Credit: Cricket Netherlands
The umpire reports that have been made for years, questions for advice and conversations with players show that there is room for improvement when it comes to the quality of pitches in the Netherlands.
This insight has led to:
the development of a standard for cricket pitches: what requirements must a pitch meet in order to play well? This standard has been developed in consultation with NOC*NSF.
a Manual for the construction and maintenance of artificial turf cricket pitches. This describes how a good cricket pitch is constructed and, at least as important: what maintenance is required to keep a pitch in good condition. The manual can be found on the site of the KNCB: Cricket pitches manual with artificial turf .
Measurements of cricket pitches with an artificial turf
In collaboration with SGS Intron, the KNCB will carry out measurements at a large number of associations at the end of June 2023 to see whether the pitch meets the standard. Based on the results, the pitch can be improved with the help of advice from the KNCB. When the measurements will take place will be communicated with the associations later this month.
Field problems: KNCB in dialogue with municipalities
During the Regional Association meetings held at the end of 2022 and also during the spring ALV in April, the subject of fields/accommodations was discussed several times. Cricket is growing. We are very happy with that, but it also brings challenges… Namely where are we going to play cricket and can we accommodate all these new cricketers?
The KNCB is talking to various municipalities to look at solutions and possibilities, but it is also up to the associations, existing and new initiatives to be active on this subject.
If you are in talks with the municipality as an association and you have not yet discussed this with the KNCB, we would like to hear from you, because we may be talking to another contact person within the same municipality. Keep Tom Heggelman informed of developments or contact him if you have any questions about this subject.
The Accommodation Committee of the KNCB (AC) aims to have good and, above all, reliable cricket pitches in the Netherlands at all levels. “No good cricket without good pitches and fields” is the motto of the AC.
