AH WELL,, that’s that for our Brazilian adventure. Not sure why we are all crying in our beer. In the run-up to the World Cup, we were told to put our traditional over-optimism on hold. The England team were said to be travelling more in hope than expectation – and that reaching the latter stages would be a bonus.  So in that respect we realised our low-key ambitions.

NO NEWS is good news. Over a week into the World Cup, there has been virtually nothing said about the state of the pitches.  The stadiums have hosted some really entertaining games, despite dire advance warnings in the popular press about the ‘perils of the pitches’.  At least the British turfcare industry will reach the finals with the likes of pitch constructor Clive Richardson Ltd, marking specialists Pitchmark, and mower makers Dennis and Ransomes involved in the preparation and upkeep of the Brazilian stadia.

“THE cost of the pitch represents less than 1% of the investment needed to build or renovate a football stadium. However, its impact is vital and the most important element for the players” Brazilian 2002 World cup winner, Ronaldo

ONE of my favourite analogies is that a good pitch should be like a good referee (or umpire) - in that it should never be the story. Both should be ‘in play’ to encourage and complement the skills of the players.  In that respect, a really interesting contest is brewing up at  the current Test Match against Sri Lanks at Headlingley in which the pitch has played it’s full part, and we have had very few eccentricities from Billy Bowden.


SPARE a thought for Nigel Gray, Hampshire CC groundsman whose car had a nasty coming-together with the cricket school at the Ageas Bowl recently. Left parked on the steep slope behind the pavilion, the car suffered a hand-brake failure and careered down into the hill, smashing into the indoor cricket school