Purchase of Allett Scarifier Cassette for cricket square preparation
The Pitch
Problem statement
To produce the best cricket wicket the Club groundsman needs a powered scarifier to remove surface debris and thatch - a layer of dead turf material. Thatch causes a softer surface which is very undesirable for a cricket wicket as a very hard surface cannot be produced. A scarifier also scores the soil surface allowing better penetration of the soil surface by air and water. This produces thicker and healthier grass as the basis for preparing the best possible playing surface/wicket. The Club's very old self-powered scarifier, a Sisis Autorake, was generally very worn but specifically needed new drive cogs, chain, tines, tine reel shaft, stub shaft and bearings. The cost was uneconomic.
Solution
The goal of the project is to buy an Allett C20SC/TT scarifier cassette to use in the Club's Allett C20 mower power unit. The power unit was made in 2010 but a full range of new interchangeable cassettes is still available for all cricket square work a mower can undertake. I have secured a grant for half the cost of a new scarifier cassette under the Leicestershire & Rutland Cricket League's Grant Scheme. The full cost is £1720 excluding VAT, with the grant being £860. The League's Grant Scheme grants are a maximum of half the cost of a particular item. I hoped to find a second-hand cassette, and although other types of C20 cassettes have been available, a scarifier cassette hasn't.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
The scarifier cassette would fill a gap in the equipment the groundsman needs to produce the best possible playing surface. The effectiveness of the Club's ground equipment requires it to be used by a capable groundsman - which the Club is fortunate to have. The present intensive use of the cricket square will increase next year, partly due to a women's section established this year. There are sufficient ladies to warrant a full indoor winter nets coaching/practice programme for 20 weeks and to enter a full League competition in 2023. All players need the best playing surface possible to develop their skills. The scarifier cassette would play its part, for Club and visiting players alike.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Half the purchase price of £1720 excluding VAT | £860 |
Beneficiaries
3,300 people
Expected impact
I expect an Allett scarifier cassette to have a measurable effect on the quality of the playing surface and wickets. It would have a superior effect compared to the old Sisis machine. Not only would this help produce the best match wickets possible, but, because most practice takes place in mobile nets on the cricket square, it would also have a positive effect on the intensively used practice wickets. There would therefore be a benefit to the many players who play on the cricket square in a season. There are normally 4/5 matches against visiting teams per week in the 5 month season from mid-April and 2 practice evenings per week so several thousand players should use the cricket square in a season.The process of scarification should also reduce the incidence of the occasional disease which can sometimes affect the grass on the cricket square. Reducing chemical treatments would not only be better for the environment, but it would also reduce the possibility of contact with players.
Track record
The Club is careful to buy equipment designed to achieving the best outcome. Such equipment is expensive but it has been shown to be the best policy even though purchase can be delayed until sufficient funds are available. The Allett C20 mower power unit bought in 2010 is a professional unit and has met all expectations. It replaced 4 very old machines which each had just one purpose, and which had become unreliable and costly to repair. The Allett mower power unit and interchangeable cassettes have been fault-free and the Club is confident that this would apply to the Allett scarifier cassette. The Club saved for some years in order to buy the most suitable purpose-made cricket wicket roller from Poweroll. The previous roller was an old former road-roller, which was a little light for the optimal compaction necessary for the playing strip. The new roller was eventually bought in 2020 with the improvement in the degree of compaction it achieved justifying the delay.