Community Service25 Jul |
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| The Headmaster is Chairman of the Rift Valley Cricket Association, the largest Province in Kenya. A part of that role is sit on the executive committee which governs the sport at all levels from the National Team through to provincial leagues and the grass root development level of cricket too. Greensteds School has a major part to play too given it was one of only two grounds identified by Cricket Kenya which was to be upgraded to allow International fixtures to take place. The other ground is at the Rift Valley Sports Club. To take a school or club ground and transform it into an international venue is no mean feat and the photographs show exactly what is involved at each stage. The soil had to be removed from a depth of 1 metre and earth moving equipment was required to do this job. Afterwards, hard core of stone had to be placed to a depth of 18 inches and then compacted and spaces filled with smaller stone. This forms the foundation of the cricket pitch so there will be little sinking or moving of the ground as a result. Once the hard core was in place then a further 12 inches of murrum had to be gradually placed and compacted at regular 2 inch intervals. Watering to allow the soil to filter down between stone particles is an important part of the process. Next, a layer of black cotton soil, tons of the stuff to complete the last 6-8 inches. Again, watering and levelling has to be carefully done to ensure as flat a surface as possible. Black Cotton had to be dug and transported from Athi river and placed on the ground by hand. Once this was completed the next important phase was the seeding, fertilising and watering of the Bermuda grass seed. Cricket cannot be played on any type of grass. Bermuda grass is similar to that used on Golf greens and had to be especially imported from South Africa. Now, we are at the mercy of the elements to some extent as a lot of water is required to ensure the grass grows evenly.| As the grass begins to germinate and grow, the soil does gradually move and dips appear in the playing surface. At regular intervals black cotton soil has to be added to bring up the levels so the whole surface is flat with no undulations. This takes several weeks, months as different parts of the ground move at different stages. As the grass coverage is complete we then have to maintain the surface and encourage root growth with regular mowing. Once more, a specialised machine is used to keep the grass at a certain height. This machine again was brought in by CK from South Africa. We are intending to use the pitches for the first time at the end of October and many of our cricket fraternity simply cannot wait. However, scarifying, removing the carefully grown grass to produce a safe, even bouncing wicket will have to be undertaken. Cricket Kenya also recognised the need to have the rest of the cricket ground at a standard fit for International Cricketers. In this area, we have suffered, like many other areas, from lack of rain and our fields had been heavily used during the hockey season and were struggling to recover. Cricket Kenya installed an irrigation system for the entire field and so, suing our bore hole water and the irrigation system, we are able to maintain grass coverage and an even surface. Watering occurs only at night and for a limited amount of time. We are mindful of how scarce this essential commodity is and we will not be frivolous with its use. In all, after many months and agonising waiting we are nearly ready to play on it and then we hope that all of our cricketers fro school children to international stars will be able to show that the investment of time and money from CK has been well worth while. Cricket Kenya and the ICC have met the funding of all the above and from start to finish. The school obviously benefits from having a first class sports facility which will have community use as well as use by our students. My thanks to all at CK for investing in us and the future of cricket in Kenya. M.P Bentley |
| Last Updated on Sunday, 25 July 2010 09:56 |
