“Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” George Carlin
In 2018 the English Cricket Board (ECB) announced it would be laying five non-turf cricket pitches (NTP) in urban areas of Bradford as part of its plainly stupid South Asian Strategy.
The grand plan had been dreamt up by idiots, clueless about the state of grassroots cricket – having ignored it for decades – convinced that showering cash on deprived areas would get everybody out playing.
Depending on your viewpoint the plan was either hopelessly naive or blatantly racist. Either way it is a colossal waste of money.
One of the most idiotic elements of the plan was to situate NTPs in the middle of nowhere, demonstrating the clear absence of thought as to what you need to get a game of cricket on i.e. lots of bodies and equipment.
This also ignored the reality that smashing hard balls around public spaces was fraught with issues; many grassroots clubs now face insurance-related challenges unthinkable years ago, from flying balls.
The last bit, understood only by club volunteers, demonstrates why the architects of this plan may as well simply burn the cash.
Once laid an NTP, untreated, will be enveloped by surrounding grass. It involves digging away the edging at least annually which is hard graft. Weeds will also grow into and up through the artificial surface, again requiring regular treatment, often on your knees.
The strips also require constant rolling otherwise they lose compaction and performance.
Bradford Council and the ECB clearly are oblivious, understandable with a bunch of vote-chasers, unforgivable with a governing body.
Get your regular maintenance right and you should get seven to ten years from a strip after contending with arsonists, slashers and those who like to launch fireworks from them.
I made the point at the time that this was money down the drain in a blog directed at the ECB stooge – Lord Patel – who refused to answer my questions about his expensively hopeless strategy – see Why So Shy Lord Patel – June 2018
Three years on and consider the state of two of the NTPs I visited this week.
This week Bradford Council announced they were installing nine more, seven in public parks.
Has any council officer or councillor been to witness the state of the five laid in 2018 to gauge either usage or value for money?
This is a scandalous waste of public money. So as the great and good enjoy the Lords test match today, what do they really know about how hard-won cash is being wasted by tick-box projects gifted to incompetent local authorities?
Footnote
Those of you in search of a wider understanding of the utter mis-management at the top level of cricket may find this post from 2014 of interest – see here.
Amazon Man
Recently I have been a delivery driver for a local dental tycoon, whizzing around Yorkshire, opening my eyes to the world of Amazon Man.
As I sat in the traffic, my gaze deflected to a row of shops that typified modern Britain. In a row were Woody’s Spice Ranch, Pizza Palace, Papa John and a giant ice cream shop.
Rather fittingly across the road was a sign – “Hazardous Waste Removal”.
The Laws of Counter Balance
Experts are predicting that the UK could face a shortage of chips and roast potatoes, as a result of the major flooding which hit Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands last month. See The Yorkshire Post.
How ironic that one global crisis created by greed and idiocy – climate change – could impact another created by greed and idiocy – obesity. Time to up the security on the potato crop.
Already?
I wandered into the local garden centre for some last-minute tomato feed and was greeted by signs of the next pandemic. The Christmas displays were being erected.
Scarecrow Time
The Thackley & Idle Scarecrow Festival is running from August 20th to 23rd with the chosen charity the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. There is a suggested (no obligation) scarecrow entry fee of £5 – if you wish to enter or simply donate see this link.
Competition is hotting up although mine has already collapsed twice.
Sat in the garden the other day with my crop planner spreadsheet, planning spud security, I was startled as a rather smartly dressed figure walked down the snicket.
Who could this be?
A local character had gone the extra mile and donated his weekend wardrobe to making sure his entry would take some beating. You can model your scarecrow on anything so get cracking.
Philip Marks says
As a cricket enthusiast I was interested to read your latest article on the introduction of non turf cricket wickets in Bradford.
Having tried this idea before in 2018 you would have thought that lessons would have been learnt by our council, especially when you look at your recent photographs of how badly these areas have been looked after. I wonder if anyone from the council has taken the time to visit the various sites just to see how useless they are now for cricket.
I understand that the Bradford Cricket League and the Bradford Junior Cricket League were not consulted. But why would the council consult with these organisations, they include people who know about cricket!