SPORT may have come to a standstill, but for Barnard Castle Cricket Club groundsman Steve Dixon it has been a case of “business as usual” at the Vere Road ground.
Following last week’s announcement from the ECB that all cricket competitions have been suspended until further notice, Steve and his fellow turf tenders have no idea when they will be painting white lines on wickets. Whenever that day comes, rest assured Barney CC will be ready.
“Up to this point I have been preparing as I would normally. The majority of the work has been pre-season rolling.
“If the season was to start in July, the ground would have dried out, so you have to do the rolling with moisture in the ground.
“I am where I should be with it if the season were to start as normal in a couple of weeks.”
In the coming weeks, the square and outfield will continue to be cut at least twice a week, but the grass will not be cut as short as it would normally be.
And despite the wet start to 2020, the recent dry spell has left the square needing watering to keep it in good order.
“It's sod’s law – it’s in one of its best conditions,” added Steve.
