Cricket: Grounds for danger money in this job

By RICHARD BOOCK

On the surface, being a groundsman at an international cricket venue might seem a fairly laidback way of life, but not in the Windy City.

Although the one-off test between New Zealand and Zimbabwe eventually resumed after stormy weather in Wellington yesterday, the biggest dramas took place when the Basin Reserve ground staff battled gales to remove and replace the covers.

The howling nor'westerlies made virtual spinnakers of the covers, flinging people around like mannequins, and had veterans remembering past cricket matches when the Basin's sightscreens were demolished and ground staff were injured trying to tend to their duties.

Chief groundsman Trevor Jackson said yesterday's gale was one of the worse of recent times to affect an international, and conjured up memories of the test against Sri Lanka in 1990-91, when fierce winds marred the first few days.

"You have to be bloody careful," Jackson said.

"We've had a few injuries in the past, but nothing so serious this season.

"It's been a gusty, windy time lately, and because we've got one of the biggest blocks in the country, we've got more covers than usual to cope with."

Jackson said yesterday's task had been made easier by the presence of several ground staff from the Wellington Stadium, although several were still thrown from their feet or wrenched into the air while trying to hang on to the covers.

The gales had camera-staff from broadcaster Sky Television reconsidering their vantage points, and made for an almost-deserted ground as patrons opted to stay indoors.

Jackson said the strength of Wellington's wind made it impossible to use structural covers such as those at Carisbrook or Jade Stadium, because they would simply get blown "halfway up Adelaide Rd."

"A spike came flying out and hit a net bowler in the head a couple of summers ago," he said.

"And Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson was lifted into the air once and ended up with cracked ribs.

"You'd think taking the covers off and on would be a fairly mundane business, but here it's a bit different."