New Torquay cricket pitch still healthy despite large rainfall at Spring Creek Reserve

A brand new cricket pitch is still healthy despite heavy rainfall across Geelong wiping out men’s cricket for all of October.

Cricket . GCA2: Torquay v St PeterÕs. Torquay bowler James Fisher . Picture: Mark Wilson

NEW Torquay coach Leigh Kentish says recent rain has not caused any issues with the new pitch at his club’s home ground, with the centre wicket undergoing work in the off-season.

The wicket came under scrutiny in the 2021/22 season when the Tigers finished on top of the ladder but discussions were held over whether the pitch was able to host a semi final.

Ultimately Torquay lost to Leopold in the semi final, but the council worked on the facilities over the off-season to improve the playing surface.

Kentish said a lot of work had gone into preparing the pitch, and the recent rain was not an issue for the health of the wicket.

“We’re at a pretty satisfactory level at the moment, a lot of work has gone into it,” he said.

“We’ve had it lasered, reseeded and a lot of time has been spent working on the wicket.

“After the footy season the entire square was really muddy, but the curators have taken it from muddy to a healthy grass covering really well.

“It’s still pretty juvenile grass, but it’s holding up really well.”

No cricket has been played on the new wicket yet, with the opening six rounds of the Geelong Cricket Association season abandoned because of the rainfall across the state.

GCA officials are refixturing the season to play just one-day cricket, ruling out the longer format for the third straight season.

Vice president Sam Hall said the overall health of pitches around the competition was “pretty good”.

“We’ve had some wickets waterlogged, we have had a lot of rain in the past few weeks,” he said.

“We’re hoping that with making the call early of no cricket this weekend that clubs have plenty of time to work on the pitches and give them a proper run.

“With trying to get wickets up each weekend, clubs have been pulling covers off and putting them on constantly, so hopefully we can now get the pitches a good soaking and get some proper growth on them.”

The GCA season will start on November 12, with the T20 competition set to begin on November 8.

Originally published as New Torquay cricket pitch still healthy despite large rainfall at Spring Creek Reserve