Cricket: Grounds for satisfaction

The second season in a row of plentiful runs on New Zealand pitches shows that New Zealand Cricket's efforts to build better batsmen are having at least some effect.

The overall objective - to produce batsmen capable of making big scores internationally and playing time in test cricket - may still be a moot point but there is no question that the previous default cricket environment here (low, slow pitches of variable bounce) is no more.

The old pitch quality may have spelled difficulties for some touring teams - and some good New Zealand bowling figures - but New Zealand Cricket say bowlers prepared to work hard can still prosper.

The work done on bringing New Zealand pitches up to scratch is responsible for the runs feast again occurring this year, as it did last season.

Northern Districts' (ND) 726 this year in reply to Canterbury's 558 for 4 at Rangiora is the crowning example.

Such scores have given rise to the debate on whether anything except a batsman's ego reaps the benefit from that sort of cricket.

Auckland head groundsman Mark Perham says it has come about because of a more professional approach across the country.

"The warrant of fitness system [for pitches] has improved the standard from four to five years ago. There has been a New Zealand Cricket directive to make four-day wickets friendlier to batsmen than seam bowlers, so teams would be more likely to win the toss and bat. They wanted the wickets to be flatter on the first day while retaining their bounce, so bowlers who were willing to put the effort in got something out of it.

"One example would be Daryl Tuffey still taking plenty of wickets [27 at an average of 22.37] last year."

But at what price has that been to bowlers' averages and morale? The number of times a team has gone past 400 on the first innings has increased markedly since five years ago.

This year, up until the end of round seven, it has occurred one in every three first turns at bat - as opposed to 1 in 5 in 2004-05. Scores of 500-plus also occur more regularly.

This season looks well on the way to matching 2008-09 where bat dominated ball eight times in such a fashion. ND coach Grant Bradburn argues pitch soil-type has seen a proliferation of runs at the expense of the ball.

"We need to analyse where the runs are being scored. I know there have been a number of batsmen-friendly Waikari clay wickets at Rangiora, QEII Park [Christchurch] and Seddon Park [Hamilton]. It is difficult to get guys out on those pitches."

"I'm a huge fan of Patumahoe [clay] which is what they've got at the Basin Reserve," says Bradburn.

"I think that is the best track in the country for pace and bounce - Colin Maiden Park and Eden Park use the same soil too. Batsmen love it because they get consistent bounce. If it lands halfway down the track they know they can play cross-bat shots with freedom. That's critical for exciting cricket.

"Patumahoe soil also forces batsmen to play off the back foot better. Waikari produces a front foot track because it tends to result in more placid pitches."

NZC operations manager Tim Murdoch argues it has been a successful policy: "It's not about necessarily creating highways; we just want good cricket wickets. That's reflected in a record number of runs. It means bowlers have to work hard for their wickets but that is what the step up to international cricket is all about."

Perham agrees it's better to have more runs and consistent wickets than the alternative.

"I helped with the original audit of grounds around the country. Initially there were a lot of objections but we explained they could then go to their councils with the knowledge to justify why they needed covers, rollers and staff.

"Before that you had guys trying to produce four-day wickets in inclement weather without the required tools. It was ridiculous. In fact places like Molyneaux Park in Alexandra have now lost their warrant of fitness to host because the necessary resources weren't made available."