Leicestershire CCC celebrate #GroundsWeek

This week (28 Feb “ 6 March) marks #GroundsWeek, which celebrates the vital role ground staff and volunteers play in making sport possible and keeping green spaces accessible.

The annual awareness week is embraced here at Leicestershire County Cricket Club, as we pay tribute to the stellar work Head Groundsman Andy Ward and his magnificent team do, to maintain and improve the first-class playing surfaces at Uptonsteel County Ground.

Ward, who has given 37 years of service to the Club, has been highly acclaimed for his work, winning ECB awards for best preparation of one-day pitches in 2013, and similarly in 2017, sharing the commendation with Nottinghamshire CCC’s Head Groundsman Steve Birks, for the quality of their One-Day Cup and T20 Blast pitches.

Ward and his team added to the growing accolades list in 2019 for the Club’s three and four-day pitches, finishing as runners-up to Yorkshire CCC “ a prestigious award considering the competition.

Speaking on the accomplishments, Ward said: “It is a very exciting time at Leicestershire. For us to achieve what we have is brilliant and we are all really pleased with the recognition we’ve received.
“It is positive that we are doing something right with the pitches and hopefully the players enjoy playing on them as well.”

Andy and his team also oversaw the installation of multiple hybrid pitches at Uptonsteel County Ground in 2021, a pivotal modern development to greater enhance the durability of the wickets on the square amid increasing cricketing commitments.

Talking about the importance of hybrid pitches, Ward said: “The demands of cricket on a cricket square nowadays are always increasing, so this should increase durability. I’m always learning but there’s good times ahead.”

Work on the pitches is a year-round task, whatever the weather. The team meticulously prepare the wickets before matches, often with short turnarounds and varying demands depending on the format.

Whether it is using the roller between innings, repairing footholes mid-innings, or hurrying on with the covers after a sharp downpour, the team are always on high alert to perform a diverse range of tasks that facilitate the game we love.

Head Coach Paul Nixon sang the praises of Ward and his team, saying: “Andy and his team do a superb job, preparing top-class pitches all season long.

“Their work is huge for us as professionals. The best form of practice is on the square, for everyone: the first team, second team and Academy.

“We were learning on the job beforehand, now we can prepare well, particularly in white-ball cricket. That’s thanks to the hard work Andy and his team have done.”

More information on the #GroundsWeek campaign in March can be found by clicking HERE.