Pitch Doctor To Prepare Dalton Batting Paradise

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday November 22, 2007

By LUKE KEENAN

WORK is underway to ensure Illawarra cricket fans witness a run-fest when NSW and South Australia meet in next month's Ranger Cup battle at North Dalton Park.

Cricket NSW pitch consultant Tony Herman was in Wollongong yesterday to inspect the all-important pitch ahead of the December 9 day-nighter. Herman is convinced Dalton Park curator Shane Younger and his apprentice Jason Bates will produce a typical one-day deck for scoring runs, which should delight a crowd organisers hope will exceed 3000.

"I think they'll (fans) have a great day for sure," Herman said.

"It's early days at the moment but it's a one-dayer so we want to make sure it's a good batting track, that there's plenty of runs for the crowd.

"There won't be a lot in it (the pitch) by the time it (the game) comes round."

The match will showcase the re-developed ground, with its broadcast-quality lights, resurfaced field and new car park.

The Blues' team will feature several stars of Australian cricket, including former Wests Illawarra junior and new Test opener Phil Jaques, as well as spinner Stuart MacGill.

Younger admitted it would be the biggest game he had prepared a pitch for, but added he was confident the track would be a good one.

"The pressure's on, but we'll be right, it'll be good," he said.

The pitch is watered and the roller applied in a bid to ensure a nice batting deck.

"What you're trying to do is push the moisture furthest down," Herman explained.

"The further down you can get the moisture, the more the wicket holds together.

"So if we can push the water right through the profile it'll hold together all day and that's the trick to it.

"If you don't push it down far enough it starts to crack up and you get variable bounce."

Herman travels around the state helping to prepare pitches in regional areas where NSW are scheduled to play.

"You get huge crowds in comparison to games in (Sydney) because people are crying out for major games," he said.

"You'll have a lot of the Australian players here so it might be a lifetime chance for a lot of the kids to meet a lot of their stars."

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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