While many of us are just hitting the snooze button on our alarm clocks, groundsman Phil Stoyanoff is already at work preparing the ground for the first Test at McLean Park this summer.
Pakistan and the BLACKCAPS will square off this week in the third and final Test of the series. While the players are practicing and preparing for the final showdown, Stoyanoff is working hard on the wicket and outfield to ensure McLean Park is Test ready.
He has been the groundsman at McLean and Nelson Parks in Napier for 11 years, carefully tending to the parks with accurate precision. “We mow the grass to 10-12mm in length. It’s a nice even grass,” he says describing the outfield at the Test venue.
His day starts at seven. The hessian covers are removed from the pitch and soil samples are conducted. The tests are a vital part of his regime. “Depending on what the samples say I base my plan of attack for the day around that,” Stoyanoff says. “I have to think about what roller I’m going to use and if I need to mow.”
The pitch at McLean Park is Tongoia clay a “shrinking, swelling clay”. When it dries it cracks and when it’s damp it expands. “It goes extremely hard up here. And the condition of the pitch has a lot to do with the climate. It’s always been a good batting track here. But some good bowlers get wickets too. The likes of Brett Lee and good fast bowlers get wickets here.”
To compliment the batting pitch, the outfield is carefully tended, to ensure maximum efficiency for batsmen. The outfields are a fan carpet grass which is also rolled “to get good pace on the ball”.
So what made him get into grounds keeping and is it a good career path? “I played cricket before and was working as a groundsman in Wellington before making the move up here.
“You’ve got to have passion for the job and love the sport and work long hours. There’s a lot of commitment there,” he says. “And you get to see some great cricket.”
Getting involved in turf management
New Zealand Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation
For more information visit the NZSTI website »
Or contact Baz Woodcock on +64 6 356 8090 ext 707
Otago Polytech - Sports Turf management
For more information visit the Otago Polytech website »
Or contact Gary Smith on 0800 765 9276
Turf Industry Profiling Group
Visit the TIPG website »
