How hybrid pitches are spearheading the next evolution in cricket: Part Two

SIS Grass Hybridin Cricket

Putting a new spin on it - SIS Grass Hybrid

For a game that’s centuries old and steeped in tradition, some might assume that cricket trails behind other sports when it comes to new technology. But that thinking is actually wide of the mark.

It’s true the way cricket is played remains largely unchanged - you only need to read the formalised rules from 1797 to see that - though there are many areas where the game has moved with the times. Microphones and cameras found their way into stumps as far back as the late 1980s, the ‘snickometer’ was introduced in 1999, and in 2008 the first decision review system was rolled out for a Test Match between Sri Lanka and India.

These changes have made cricket fairer and more entertaining for fans across the world, demonstrating its willingness to adapt. However, there are also quieter revolutions taking place within the game, the latest of which can be seen – and felt – across England’s 18 counties. And this work is now generating interest in other major cricketing nations. 

While not as flash as some of the technologies mentioned above, hybrid pitches are no less influential and will have a lasting impact on the quality and reach of the game at all levels. In this sense, they are arguably the sport’s most significant development in decades, yet still relatively unknown to those outside of groundsmanship, stadium management and the closest followers of cricket.  

So, why are hybrids so important? Former England international and SIS Pitches’ cricket director Paul Taylor brings us up to speed.

 

Natural, artificial, hybrid…what’s it all about?

Hybrid pitches, as the name suggests, are a mixture of natural and synthetic grass. The technology has existed for years but has only become a viable option for top-level cricket in the last decade. 

Poor drainage and inconsistent performance and increased demand across all cricket formats were the main drivers for the sport’s first experiments outside of all-natural turf. “There were a number of experiments that paved the way for more convincing surfaces to come,” says Taylor, “but none were able to produce the characteristics of an all-natural pitch, so clubs inevitably had to make concessions around playability.”

The greatest advance for hybrids came with the introduction of the stitched hybrid system, like those offered by SIS Grass Hybrid. This approach uses synthetic fibres that are stitched into the pitch; grass then grows around the fibres, securing them in place and encouraging greater depth of root growth.

It was this change that saw others take note, such as William Relf, Sports Ground Manager at Loughborough University, one of the world’s leading sports science and research institutions. “Over the years, we had experimented with all kinds of materials for both indoor and outdoor cricket surfaces,” says Relf. “Plywood, glued paper, and sand/loam filled carpet. But none were able to strike that balance between durability and playability. Stitching was the answer we had been looking for. It plays like an all-natural pitch but lasts much longer.”

With a stitched hybrid pitch, the result is a more robust playing surface capable of withstanding the wear generated by bowlers, batters and fielders. Stitched systems also provide better drainage as the fibres act as a conduit for water to reach the soil profile. Better drainage means better germination, and therefore healthier grass. 

But what about the challenges? Despite being a hybrid surface, ground staff still need to treat an installation as they would with a fully natural pitch. It’s not a case of low or zero maintenance, but rather a mostly similar approach with the added benefit of much greater durability. In short, the same time spent on maintenance but much less often. 

Perhaps most important for international cricket, synthetic fibres are unaffected by different climate conditions, so they can be installed the same way no matter where a stadium’s located. “It was a slightly different experience at first,” adds Relf. “But over the years we’ve learned that we can do a lot of renovation work – quite intensive in some cases – without having to worry about the integrity of the stitching.”

But is it ‘proper cricket’?

Like any sport, cricket has its purists - the officials, players and fans who eschew change of any sort. Yet, similar to other traditionally ‘long-form’ sports such as F1, rugby and even chess, the game has found itself looking for new fans, many of whom don’t have the time to watch what some call ‘proper cricket’. That is, every delivery of a traditional five-day test.

This has spurred the creation of shorter formats, like T20, that offer a more aggressive style of cricket played over a few hours.

To say this has worked would be an understatement. Since the first official international in 2005, T20 has grown from a “light-hearted sideshow” to a major revenue-generating staple of the sport’s global calendar.(1)  The men’s T20 World Cup in 2022, for example, brought in 1.28 billion viewers across the world, and in 2023 the women’s edition saw similarly impressive numbers up 44% on the year before.(2)

This growth is unquestionably good for the game but less so for those in charge of preparing stadiums in time for top-level play. “T20 has gone from strength to strength,” says Taylor, “but it has put ground staff under real pressure. Wickets wear down quickly under these conditions, which eventually leads to an uneven bounce and much shorter pitch lifespan. It’s somewhat ironic but hybrids have emerged as the natural choice for modern cricket given the tight turnaround between today’s matches.”

SIS Grass Hybrid, the pitch system that Taylor is helping to roll-out in every major cricket market, combines a majority of natural turf with around 5% of twisted yarn. SIS’s machine, Universal, can stitch a full-size cricket pitch in around four hours at a depth of 90mm, making it ideal for crowded scheduling. It was specifically designed for cricket, as a unique patented system designed around the demands of today’s game.

This capability is one of the areas Relf sees hybrids having most impact, especially at grassroots level. “Top-level cricket enforces a minimum size for boundaries, but this is now filtering down to the lower leagues, where you’ll find clubs with only two or three available pitches. Clubs that stitch will not only be able to play more cricket but also avoid the potential headaches involved when balls leave the ground as you’re able to play more in the middle.”

Proof of concept

SIS Grass Hybrid has already proven effective in several Premier League football stadiums, as well as a large number of county cricket grounds across England. “This work has been influential because it’s proof of concept for elite-level sport,” notes Taylor. “County clubs and governing bodies have seen these pitches ease pressure on ground staff and maintain wickets over longer periods. Practice facilities have also stood up to scrutiny, allowing teams to compete for longer than is usually possible over a typical UK cricket season.”

Taylor is referring to the addition ofSIS Grass Hybrid across some of cricket’s most recognisable stadia including Lord’s, The Kia Oval, Edgbaston, Emirates Old Trafford and Trent Bridge. The success of these installations has led to a firmer commitment from the sport’s most senior governing body in England and Wales, the ECB.

In late 2023, it was announced that hybrid pitches would be used for the first time in the 2024 County Championship season. The decision followed trials between the ECB and SIS Grass Hybrid. Despite initial reservations about the ability of hybrid pitches to deteriorate sufficiently for red ball cricket, it was deemed that their “steadfastness is more than offset by the opportunity to embrace technology and better allow grounds to cope with the volume of cricket played.”(3)

This, Taylor points out, is a watershed moment. “Securing ‘buy-in’ from the ECB is significant because hybrids will not just have an impact on the elite ranks but also grassroots participation across the country. You’re effectively giving juniors the opportunity to play on the same surfaces as the professionals. That’s a powerful legacy.”

Towards the subcontinent

ECB is not the only governing body to greenlight hybrid pitches for use in major competitions. Alongside T20, the International Cricket Council has also sanctioned the technology for use in 50-over competition. This is a move that will be immediately felt in India – arguably the sport’s foremost cricketing nation – with SIS Grass Hybrid set to take root across the country in the coming months. “Dharamshala has just taken delivery of a Universal machine, the first in India,” adds Taylor. “This will then be shipped to Mumbai and Ahmedabad, where it will stitch more pitches for both practice and match play once the IPL is finished.”

These installations are effectively a trial for hybrid technology in India, with a much larger and wider programme of activity expected across the country in the coming months.  However, Taylor is keen to point out that SIS’s investment in India is not purely down to numbers, as some might assume. “India is home to millions of cricket fans, players and professionals who play almost all year round. This huge demand puts pressure on facilities, which can make it difficult for people to access good quality pitches in their local area. Our hybrid system will create far more opportunities for people to participate in the sport, guaranteeing a higher-quality of play at every level of competition.”

Even so, hybrids still pose some questions that will only be fully answered once used in test cricket. The tactics around spin bowling, for instance, may change with improvements to surface integrity between the first and final overs. On a more robust pitch there will be less ‘give’ for bowlers to exploit at the business end of a match, making it slightly easier for batters to predict a ball’s trajectory. On the other hand, hybrids may help to level the playing field for visiting teams, allowing them to practise on the same unfamiliar pitches found beyond home grounds.

For Relf, this is an issue with an answer that will become clearer in time. “It will be interesting to see what comes back from the players at first class level,” says Relf. “Whether they deteriorate enough for spinners remains to be seen, though it may be that hybrids bounce or have more carry, and this will be enough to bring certain players into the match. Perceptions are really important at this level. If it turns out they do turn a lot, or bounce more, that will be what sticks whether it’s the full story or not. Personally, I think it will depend how pitches are prepared and what loams are used.”

Taylor sees it the same way. “I think the ECB’s statement is the best answer to this question. Hybrids will likely have a negligible influence on people’s approach to the game, but a huge impact on cricket’s reach across the world. That speaks for itself.”

For more information about Universal and SIS Grass Hybrid, visit:
sispitches.com/sports-pitches/hybrid/installation/cricket

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