Chris Cairns: Best things come to the groundsmen who wait

Last year New Zealand Cricket produced a document that outlined plans for the future and also contained its vision for on-field expectations - to become the best in the world.


To be the best you need the correct surfaces on which to perform.

Sadly, Hamilton has gone from being the best wicket a few years ago to the worst.

During the seasons of 1998-99 and 1999-2000 the wicket that we played tests on against India, the West Indies and Australia was on a par with anywhere in the world. In fact I was quoted as saying it was the best wicket in the world - the matches were excellent and the players' skills were highlighted.

Since then the wicket has deteriorated to such a point that it was decided during the winter to re-lay the entire block. This is where I have a problem.

Groundsman Karl Johnson seems to be the one in the firing line as he is the target for criticism as he prepares the wicket. But is he really to blame?

To re-lay a new block and then have a wicket ready for international cricket the next season is naive, to say the least.

Following the Black Caps' encounter with the World XI in Hamilton this week, I read something from Keith McAuliffe, an expert on cricket pitches from the turf institute, saying you can have a wicket ready in 12 weeks. Madness.

There had already been some murmurings this season from Hamilton that not all was rosy with the new block.

Players said that there was an inconsistency with the bounce.

It has to be remembered that if there are complaints at domestic level regarding conditions, these will be shown up tenfold at international level. The reason for that is the increase in quality of the bowlers - the pace they generate, the bounce they extract and their ability to bowl in the right areas.

Uneveness will always occur when you re-lay a block and often you need upwards of two years before the soil is compacted enough to provide a level playing surface.

Cricket is a game played over a long time and the surface we use is no different. It takes time to nurture and prepare, you cannot rush these things. Sadly in their attempt to rush the wicket back to international standard, Hamilton has damaged its reputation and has lost its ODI against the Australians.

So who is to blame?

It's hard to nail it down to one person, but with the statement that Mr McAuliffe issued regarding a 12-week preparation and looking back on the theory the turf experts had a few years ago on leaving more grass on wickets to increase pace and bounce (which was when the Indians were here and ODIs were getting scores of little more than 100), we have a problem with the theory of 'what should occur' against the practical of 'what will occur'.

Sound common sense is lacking.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY