Drainage and Wet Weather Management

In this lesson you will learn the routes water takes on a cricket ground. Some runs off the surface, guided by gentle falls in the levels towards the boundary. Some soaks into the soil and moves down through the root zone. Where the natural soil drains poorly, installed drainage such as pipes, slit drains or sand bands carries the water away to an outlet. Some returns to the air through evaporation and the grass itself. A good ground uses all of these. When one fails, for example when the surface is compacted or a drain outlet is blocked, water sits on the surface and play is lost.

• Surface run-off along gentle falls
• Infiltration through the root zone
• Pipes, slit drains and sand bands
• Evaporation and the grass itself

In this lesson you will learn about compaction, the most common cause of a wet outfield. Feet, vehicles and machinery, especially in wet conditions, press soil particles together and squeeze out the air spaces that water needs to pass through. The result is a surface that stays wet, grass with shallow roots, and moss or weeds. On the square some compaction is wanted, but on the outfield it is the enemy. Keeping vehicles off wet ground, varying routes, and relieving compaction through aeration are the key responses. Compacted areas are often near gates, sightscreens and the walkway to the square.

• Traffic squeezes out air spaces
• Water then sits on the surface
• Wanted on the square, a problem on the outfield
• Look near gates and walkways

In this lesson you will learn how aeration helps drainage. Aeration means making holes or fissures in the soil so air and water can move. Solid tines and slits are used regularly on outfields to keep channels open, while hollow tines remove cores and can help with thatch. Deep tine machines relieve compaction lower down. On the square, aeration is mainly done outside the playing season, as part of renovation, so that the pitches are not weakened. Aeration is done when the soil is moist enough for the tines to penetrate but not so wet that the machine causes damage. All aeration machinery requires training and authorisation.

• Holes let air and water move
• Solid, slit, hollow and deep tines
• Square aeration mostly outside the season
• Machinery only by trained operators

In this lesson you will learn how to spot drainage problems. After heavy rain, walk the ground and note where water stands, how long it takes to clear, and whether the same areas are always worst. Look for moss, soft patches, rushes or black layers in the soil, which all suggest poor drainage. Check that drain outlets and ditches are clear and that gullies are not blocked with leaves. Mark the problem areas on a simple plan of the ground. This information helps the committee decide where aeration is needed or whether professional advice on drainage is worthwhile.

• Note where water stands and for how long
• Moss, rushes and soft patches are warnings
• Keep outlets and ditches clear
• Map problem areas for the committee

In this lesson you will learn the tools used to remove surface water. Squeegees and brushes push water off the covers and away from the square. Sponge or roller water removers, sometimes known by trade names, soak up standing water and release it away from the playing area. Sawdust or drying materials may be used on bowlers' run-ups and footholds to improve grip, under the umpires' direction. Never brush water from the covers onto the square, and lift covers carefully so water runs off the edge away from the pitch. Work methodically, starting with the areas that matter most for play to resume.

• Squeegees and brushes move water away
• Water removers soak up standing water
• Drying materials on footholds as umpires direct
• Never let cover water run onto the square

In this lesson you will learn how the ground team supports a restart after rain. Under the Laws, the umpires decide whether conditions are fit for play, considering safety of the players above all. The ground team's job is to give them the best chance by removing covers efficiently, clearing water and making run-ups and footholds safe. Keep the umpires informed of progress and be honest about problem areas. In a Twenty20 match, overs may be reduced under the competition's rules, so time matters, but rushing that leads to a dangerous surface helps nobody. Check the WFA competition regulations for reduced-overs rules.

• Umpires decide fitness for play
• Remove covers and water efficiently
• Keep umpires informed honestly
• Check WFA regulations for reduced overs

In this lesson you will learn to stay safe while working in the wet. Wet grass and covers are slippery, so wear footwear with good grip and move carefully. Covers full of water are very heavy, so move them as a team and never alone. Never use electrical equipment in standing water, and stop all outdoor work if there is thunder or lightning, sheltering in a building rather than under trees. Machinery can slide on wet slopes, and should only be used when the operator judges it safe. Look after yourself, as cold, wet volunteers make mistakes.

• Wet surfaces are slippery, wear good grip
• Move water-laden covers as a team
• Stop work in thunder and lightning
• Machinery can slide on wet ground