Cricket III: Pitch compaction

The compaction of the pitch (grading) is undoubtedly one of the most important processes for the achievement of an optimal Cricket PitchThe use of a soft, firm surface reduces the risk of injury to the players. Both too much and too little of it can have very negative effects.

The main objective of the curling process is to achieve a pitch more consistent, with less deformation against the impacts of the bats, as well as providing a higher bounce of the ball. Agronomically, it is possible to observe how the compactness of the substrate is modified by measuring the bulk density.

Values of 1.3 g/cm3 to 1.7 g/cm3 can easily be increased from 1.3 to 1.7 g/cm3 by means of a crimping operation (by hand or by machine). Pitch Rollers as in the main image)

Compaction can only be carried out on soil profiles with low moisture content, as pore water is incompressible. It is only possible to reduce the soil volume occupied by air.

Soil is compacted because its volume decreases, increasing the bulk density, a phenomenon that only occurs when gaseous pores are compacted. Wet pores are incompressible.

As the wickets the soil volume decreases (the gaseous volume decreases), increasing proportionally the % of water-filled pores over the total. Compaction is totally impossible under saturated soil conditions. soil profile and very difficult with % air ranges around 5%.

The study for the correct compaction of the wickets is given by the "Proctor Test"(which uses the well-known 2.5 kg Clegg Hammer  for compaction) and expresses the ratio of the bulk density to the % VWC.