Pitch properties and performance

This report presents a summary of the major findings from recent work carried out by the England and Wales Cricket Board's Pitches Research Group. The findings are comprised from three major studies which are briefly outlined below:

Pitch coring programme Soil cores were taken from pitches by groundsmen at the start of County Championship matches over the period of 1996 to 2002. Cores were sent to either the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), Bingley or the University of Wales, Aberystwyth where their soil composition was ascertained through a detailed analysis.

Detailed pitch monitoring programme Detailed measurements of pitch condition and surface performance were recorded at the eng of 69 County Championship cricket matches from 1998 to 2003. The information recorded included; ball bounce, hardness, grass cover and condition, cracking and surface damage. Surface friction was determined on some pitches from 2000.

High speed video analysis of pitch performance Objective measurements of pitch pace, bounce and consistency were achieved using a high speed video system. These measurements were carried out during 40 match visits when 100 ball impacts were filmed on the third day of each match.