More than 200 cricket groundsmen representing schools, local clubs and international test venues gathered for a seminar at St Albans School, to hear from the grounds-care team who won the Institute of Groundsmanship’s (IOG) School, College, or University Sports Club Team of the Year Award in 2014.

Following an introduction by Dennis and SISIS Area Sales Manager, Robert Jack, the Pitches Consultant for St Albans School, Ian Smith, gave an insight into the work required on one of the school’s cricket pitches, with a particular focus on the end of season renovations.

Ian Wall, Grounds Manager for the Bank of England Sports and Social Club, followed with a presentation on cricket pitch use for winter sports, before Chris Wood, Pitch Consultant for the ECB, discussed international pitch inspection, showing some tools of the trade.

Former England Cricket captain Mike Gatting, now working alongside the ECB, spoke about life in the top tier of cricket, telling stories about ex-team mates, before addressing cricket’s problematic population loss that currently runs at seven per cent per annum.

He then opened the floor asking groundsmen what they required from the ECB to deliver best practice.

After the event his presentation he said: “It was nice to see so many people here wanting to understand a bit more about their art. My job today was really to talk to them about and thank them for all the work they do, but also to try and implore them to help us with a new grounds scheme we are launching at the ECB.”