Brandon Jansen is the groundsman at the Randburg Cricket Club, and he enjoys it.
“This is a passion of mine,” said the 23-year-old, who is a also a landscaper and a batsman for the club.
“The best thing about it, is being outdoors, in fresh air. I do not have to sit at the desk.”
Jansen maintains two fields at the club, though one requires less work because it is also used by rugby and baseball players at the Randburg Sports Complex.
Junior cricketers play in two seasons, from May to August and September to April, and the seniors from September until April.
In each season two of the field’s six pitches must be available for matches, which are 40 overs a side matches on Saturdays and 60 overs a side matches on Sundays.
“We [Jansen and groundstaff] paint lines on the pitches on Friday and roll them Wednesday to Friday, three hours per day and for an hour before each game. This pushes and soaks the dew. The outfield must be mowed with a cylinder lawnmower and takes two days each week,” explained Jansen.
When not in use, pitches must be covered from Wednesday until Sunday, although if covers are left on for too long, termites burrow in the pitches and have to be killed with pesticide.
In the off-season Jansen and his team deweed the pitches, otherwise the Kikuyu grass on the outfield will spread to the pitches. They also scarify the pitches (use a machine to turn up dead clay). Then a thin layer of clay is placed on the pitches and after that fertiliser and water are used.
Then the pitches are left alone for two months so that the clay can settle and grass can grow.
Six clay pitches are used in the nets and much of the same maintenance is required for each.
Jansen has been groundsman at the club for three years. He learnt his trade by watching his predecessor at his club and learning from the Wanderers groundsman, Chris Scott.
He said he would rate his pitch eight out of 10 and of all the clubs in Gauteng, his is the best.
