Cricket IV: Quality parameters

The parameters of measuring the quality of the surfaces of Cricket are given by the well-known: "Performance Quality Standards (PQS)"and constitute measurable levels of quality (British Standards) and are determined through methods, which are used by the ECB (England Cricket Board) for audits of these surfaces. There are three categories:

• Structural quality: It includes turf, soil and its organisms. This category determines the quality of the game and influences the quality of the presentation of the sports surfaces. Thus, in the Cricket Pitches we have:

• Quality of presentation: Given by the visual aspect. Both players and spectators perceive the quality of surfaces according to their presentation, which will depend to a large extent on the achievement of structural quality.

• Quality of play: It represents the playability, i.e. how these surfaces will behave during the game.

The optimum VWC values after consolidation by pulping will depend on the organic matter content of our wickets and are extremely important for the quality of the wicket.

Recommended values in VWC for Wickets (27-33% clay content) in the first 60 mm:

Source: Pitch properties and performance, The England and Wales Cricket Board, April 2004.