MIDDLESEX CRICKET APPOINTS FIRST-EVER FULL-TIME MEMBER OF GROUND STAFF

Last week, Middlesex Cricket marked a landmark moment in the Club’s 162-year
history as our first-ever full-time groundsperson has started their position.

Raj
Nath has commenced his role as Head Groundsperson at the QEII Sportsground on
Swyncombe Avenue – the Club’s new home for women’s and girls’ cricket.

Nath
– who has spent many years working for Middlesex in the Community – brings to
the role extensive knowledge in the turfcare industry having been responsible
for grounds at Kenton Cricket Club and Chiswick Cricket Club previously.

In
addition to working on the grounds, Nath – as part of his role with MITC, from
which he has been seconded – has overseen the county’s Pitch Support Network,
supporting the recreational game across Middlesex.

This
appointment is a key part of a multi-year strategy for the site as the Club
strengthens its commitment to women’s and girls’ cricket across the county –
which in 2025 saw over 200 teams compete in fixtures.

It
is believed that the Swyncombe Avenue ground will host girls’ cricket this
summer and some senior women’s training sessions before Middlesex Women make it
their full-time base from 2027 onwards.

Turf
management runs in the Nath family as Raj’s son, Tushal, is on the ground staff
at Lord’s.

Commenting
on becoming the Club’s Head of Grounds, Nath said:

“It
is a massive honour for me to be considered for the role and to be Middlesex’s
first ever groundsperson.

“I
hope that the QEII Sportsground at Swyncombe Avenue will provide a wonderful
facility for us as a country to develop our women’s and girls’ teams. I am
deeply indebted to those who have supported me in my career, especially the
late Alan Digby from Kenton CC, who taught me everything about cricket.”

Middlesex
Cricket’s Facilities and Project Lead Josh Knappett commented:

“We’re
incredibly proud to secure Raj Nath as Head Groundsperson, becoming the first-ever
grounds maintenance employee of Middlesex Cricket as he goes to work at the
QEII Sportsground at Swyncombe Avenue in Hounslow.

“This
ground means a huge amount to us at Middlesex Cricket as it represents the
future home of women’s and girls’ cricket and sits at the heart of an
ambitious, multi-phase masterplan which we are in development of with the ECB
and officers and councillors in the London Borough of Hounslow. This
groundsperson role is the next vital step in providing high-quality playing and
training facilities for female Middlesex cricketers.

“Raj
brings a wealth of experience and genuine passion for the site, which is
exactly what we need to produce outstanding pitches at what will become a venue
serving the professional, pathway and community game. We are grateful to MITC
for releasing Raj to take on this role and look forward to seeing him develop
the site to a first-class standard while building a strong workforce around it.
With the rapid growth of the women’s game and a historic under-provision of
facilities, this site presents a transformational opportunity to change both
access to and the experience of women’s and girls’ cricket across
Middlesex”

Middlesex’s
Director of Cricket Alan Coleman added:

“This
is a significant moment in the Club’s history and plays a key part in our
development and ongoing commitment to the future of women’s and girls’ cricket
in Middlesex.

“As
Middlesex Women continue to strive towards becoming a Tier One side from 2029
and beyond, having a permanent home is essential. The QEII Sportsground project
is an extremely promising one and we can’t wait to see the development go from
strength-to-strength – providing a state of the art base for generations to
come.”