The outfield is lush green and the pitch is prepared to perfection.
This is how the Willowmoore Park main and B fields look less than 30 days before the first ball of the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s World Cup is bowled.
The ground-staff has been hard at work ensuring the fields are in immaculate condition when the tournament starts on January 14.
Newly-appointed groundskeeper Mncedisi Radebe explained he verti-cut the grass on the wicket so that it’s kept in a perfect condition.
This is Radebe’s first big assignment as the head groundskeeper, taking over from the experienced Bryan Frost who is moving to the Bullring in Johannesburg.
“Our first preparation is to verti-cut the grass on the pitch. We’ll leave more grass so that there’s bounce and pace,” he said.Radebe said the outfield on both fields has been rejuvenated and lifted and that four months ago, the grass was aerated to improve drainage.
He said during the festive holidays, he will cut the grass, roll and get the pitches on both fields ready.
“The only thing we have to do on the B field wicket is to break the thickness so that the grass can open spaces for the bulli to prevent cracks.
“There has to be some grass left on the pitch because of the number of games both pitches are going to host.
Sometimes we won’t have time to maintain the pitch so the grass will help prevent cracks.
“Our focus is preparing the best pitches for all teams so that when they get here they find the wickets in the best condition,” he said.
Radebe has been part of Willowmoore Park since 2013.
He stated that preparing a cricket pitch is not an easy job but he loves the challenges the job offers.
“The best thing is challenging yourself to prepare the right pitch for different conditions.”
Willowmoore Park will host 12 group A and B matches including two fourth-place play-off matches between January 14 and 20.
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