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Cricket Association of Bengal
Date of inspection: 19 September 2002
Present: Prabir Mukherjee (BCCI -Pitches and Grounds - East and Curator)
Kasturi Rangan (BCCI - Pitches and Grounds - Chairman)
Bill Walmsley (NZ Sports Turf Institute)
Present condition of ground
A superb cricket ground maintained in excellent condition. The block was planted on 16 August and was first soil top dressed at the end of August, and again at the beginning of September.
Prospects for sporting pitches
It is most encouraging to hear reports that the pitches at Eden Gardens are already sporting. The grey-brown heavy silt soil needs to be managed in a particular way to achieve best results. I feel that the clay content of the cricket pitch soil makes it potentially one of the best soils for performing well. This indicates the need for careful selection of soil. Soils of the same colour and appearance different in their clay content and performance potential. Lab testing needs tobe a routine part of soil selection.
The heavy silt soils often tend to compact heavily and need regular decompaction to perform best.
It will be interesting to see whether the reconstructed block plays better or poorer than normal this year. If it plays better it would indicate the benefits of decompacting this soil.
Limitations on producing a quality outfield
Purple nuts edge and coarse grasses are being successfully hand weeded from the outfield. Jacobsen walk-behind greens mowers are making an excellent job of mowing the outfield.
Equipment limitations
Although the outfield can be mown with two Jacobsen mowers in four hours, I would like to see one Jacobsen kept as a dedicated cricket pitch mower. I would like to see the other Jacobsen plus two other mowers used for mowing the outfield. It will be a great advantage to be able to mow the outfield more quickly for important matches, as well as being able to double cut the outfield leading up to matches. Either Jacobsen or Atco mower could be used. Jacobsen should give a higher quality cut, so if cost is not a problem, there is no reason not to buy another Jacobsen (or Toro) Greens mower.
The manufacturer states that the lowest mowing height possible for the Jacobsen Tri King is 9.5 mm. It is most unlikely it will be able to mow in the 4-6mm height range required for the outfield. To mow at this height requires use of a "triplex greens mower", not a surrounds mower like the Tri King.
It may be necessary to eventually use herbicides to help control weeds and weedy grasses. It would be desirable to apply all liquid pesticides through a boom sprayer and not the single nozzle knapsack sprayer.
Organisation limitations to producing a high quality cricket venue
One of the best-managed grounds anywhere.