Cricket, the Environment and Grounds Management

How do pitches influence our game? This is an informative and useful workshop which explores an aspect of the game that is often overlooked - the surfaces we play on! From test squares to park pitches, playing on a well prepared pitch can determine whether bat or ball will dominate. It makes cricket uniquely dependent on its surface and the highly skilled people who prepare them. For young aspiring cricketers, understanding what skills you need to play at your best on different surfaces will help you make the most of your talents. The recent Test Series vs New Zealand and Pakistan, the International T20, the ODI series and THE HUNDRED were great examples of those players that could master the conditions and come out on top! As was the County Championship, the Metro Bank cup and all the other domestic and recreational cricket played in the 2026 season. But how do we go about preparing our wickets and outfields in a sustainable and environmentally conscious manner that does not compromise nature? What are the alternatives? We have a panel of people closely connected to grounds management and sustainable management ready to talk to us and have a discussion. They include: *Raj Nath - County Board Pitch Advisor and Partnership Manager at Middlesex in the Community *Dave Walter - Prem League Umpire and Chair of the Surrey Association of Cricket Officials *Georgia Ison - #billy_goat_georgia on Instagram 🙂 A lively addition to the groundskeeping sorority, looking after day to day pitch preparation and the many other tasks, which are so crucial to great surfaces. *Shubham Jain - University of Cambridge, Governance, Climate Justice & Human Rights. The grounds management industry and umpiring community is changing rapidly and is increasingly diverse and inclusive to gender, ethnicity and disability. Come along and be part of the discussion, young people are the future of the professions and this workshop will build on the knowledge you gained from being part of YL26. Young Leaders if you were unable to attend a Groundskeeping and Environmental Awareness module this year, we will count this towards completing the programme. JOIN US TO TALK CRICKET 🏏🙂