It is really wet, and I know I'm out every day of the week. The streams in the gills on the Penshaw side of the river have been running full and frequent. And all of this is after a wet summer. I can tell due to the mud I carry around on my shoes - the ground dried out last spring and then the rains and the mud came back about May last year and has barely stopped since. It was not a good summer.
Yep covers for the outfield over the last week would have stopped it getting to saturation point. Ground was fine last weekend everyone knew the forecast was bad this week.
As others have said, cover the outfield before it gets that bad. It's hardly unusual it is wet in winter.
It hasnt been warm enough to dry the outfield. If you’ve had covers on for the last 3 months the grass would be dead.
Cost of the covers I’d imagine.
Which surely less than they lose for all the lost days play during the season every year.
Understandable frustration but on a matter of procedure is fitness for play not solely in the hands of the umpires who carried out 2 inspections before calling it off?
Bumped into 1 fella in the car park as we were leaving, he had driven down from Edinburgh 10.30 abandonment may have given him a chance to either turn back or not rush.
Umpires have the final day but surely it's absolutely harmless the club tweeting the current state of the pitch. Social media last night you would have assumed the pitch was in perfect condition which deep down they clearly knew the pitch was knackered and prospects of play even without the overnight rain was slim at best. I'm at an absolute loss as to why the proceeded with a half 12 inspection when Vic said the pitch was at saturation levels. What were they expecting to happen between 1030 and 1230??
Edgbaston in the 1980s had the brumbrella which was a plastic cover which was mechanically operated and covered the square and most of the outfield but nothing has developed since then.
Surely more effort for Bostock to try and get some saudis to invest in the club.
Thats cricket mate and its daft quirky ways. Probably never even thought about the people who might turn up.
They could put a man on the moon in the 1960s but we can't cover some grass in 2024 with a bit of plastic
Contrary to what one poster thinks we spent 20 quid on 2 breakfasts and coffees while clinging onto the hope there would be play. The members lounge was full as I imagine they will have booked lunches
They won't communicate as if they did it would stop the spend you mention above. It's frustrating because after listening to Vic I'd be shocked if there is any play tomorrow. However some people do travel a fair distance/take time off work and I think the club need to be a bit more open about pitch conditions. They knew all along it was never happening today.
That’s the point. It’s how wet the ground is fundamentally because it’s just coming out of winter. April always has more light, and usually has less rain, than September. September is still usually better for cricket (except in the evening session anyway when they usually go off for bad light) because that rain is falling on relatively dry ground with a relatively low water table.
It's not impossible to communicate. It's never been good by the club. They need to do better. A pitch at saturation level would have been known well before 10.30am this morning and that means absolutely no chance of play. I'm bemused why it needed two inspections but that's on the umpires that part
