SPORTS PITCHES
Sisgrass invests in Indian cricket for next phase of hybrid
ybrid cricket
H pitches have been installed at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association ( HPCA ) Stadium in Dharamshala , the first in what is expected to be a series of major projects across India in 2024 and beyond .
pitch revolution
Completed by international sports pitches specialist SISGrass in partnership with Indian fine turf specialist company Greater Ten , the work represents the start of a drive towards improved playing surface quality and consistency at both amateur and professional levels , opening the nation ’ s most popular sport up to millions more people .
SISGrass ’ s investment in India follows a decision by the International Cricket Council to permit the use of hybrid surfaces for T20 and 50-over competition . After widespread success installing hybrids across English cricket grounds , the SIS team chose India as its next region of development . Paul Taylor , a former England international and SIS ’ s International Cricket Director , says the decision made sense for several reasons .
“ India is home to millions of cricket fans , players and professionals who play almost all year round ,” says Taylor . “ 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 .”
The Universal machine used in Dharamshala to install the hybrid surface was first developed by SISGrass in 2017 . It injects a small percentage of polymer fibre with the natural turf found inside cricket stadiums . This composition is more resilient to stresses created during play , helping to prolong the life of pitches , guarantee an even bounce and ease pressure on busy groundspeople . Completed installations are predominantly natural grass , with only 5 % of polymer fibre used . This ensures the characteristics of an all-natural pitch are maintained .
Speaking about the installation , Mr . R . P . Singh , Hony . President , HPCA , said , “ The HPCA has consistently embraced the latest advances in cricket , and we believe SISGrass ’ s technology will be game-changing .
“ Maintaining top-notch practice pitches is crucial for player development , as traditional surfaces struggle under the demands of rigorous training schedules . SISGrass ’ s integration of natural grass with synthetic
48 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | May / June 2024