Adelaide Oval’s head groundsman, Damien Hough, has revealed that the drop-in pitches being prepared for the Men’s T20 World Cup at Eisenhower Park in New York are a pioneering feat in pitch preparation. These unique pitches are being readied in Adelaide before being shipped to Florida and then transported to the tournament venue.
Hough’s team at Adelaide Oval Turf Solutions has been enlisted by the ICC to oversee this groundbreaking initiative due to their expertise in growing and preparing drop-in pitches over the past decade. He explained that the process of preparing these pitches has been complex, involving several logistical challenges.
The head groundsman elaborated on the intricate process, stating, “We built six of the 10 trays here in Adelaide. We made them modular, and we’re very proud of them. We have a couple more that will come out here next year. They are placed in shipping containers and can be sent anywhere in the world. After being shipped to Florida, I spent a month there assembling the trays, filling them with soil, compacting them, and laying the grass. We are currently in the grow-in phase.”
Hough also highlighted the involvement of LandTek, a company in Florida, in assisting with the growth phase of the pitches. He outlined the upcoming steps in the preparation, including further work on the pitches over the next six months and their transportation from Florida to New York. He emphasized the novelty of this process, noting that it has never been done before.
The drop-in pitches are destined for a 34,000-seat pop-up stadium where eight matches, including the highly anticipated clash between Pakistan and India, will be played in a span of 10 days. Additionally, six pitches will be installed in the warm-up venue for team training sessions and warm-up matches.
Despite his involvement in the T20 World Cup preparations, Hough has also been managing the pitch at Adelaide Oval for the Test match between Australia and West Indies, along with the pitches for Adelaide’s BBL matches. He expressed his excitement at being part of such a historic event, stating, “It’s quite historic to have the World Cup in America for the first time, and it’s a privilege for us to be involved in this project.”
The preparations for the T20 World Cup in New York are a testament to the innovative approach taken by Adelaide Oval’s team, showcasing their ability to deliver high-quality pitches on a global stage.
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