As the Black Caps prepare to kick off New Zealand’s earliest-ever international home summer, Bay Oval’s head groundsman Jared Carter said the team is ready despite a challenging lead-up.
Interviewed last night by NZ Cricket head of communications Willy Nicholls, Carter reflected on the unusual timing of the season opener and the impact of recent weather events on pitch preparation.
“It’s actually not been too bad,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of high winds and big rainfall events, coming off a very wet winter here in the Bay of Plenty.”
Despite the conditions, Carter is confident in the quality of the pitch for the Chappell-Hadlee KFC T201 series between the Black Caps and Australia, which starts today.
“I’m very happy, actually,” he said.
“We’ve got a decent amount of rolling into it, everything’s looking good underneath. Today and tomorrow are just about getting the surface right and hopefully putting on a good spectacle.”
Preparing a pitch this early in the season presents unique challenges, particularly with slower drying times. “It just extends the preparation timeframes,” Carter explained.
“An extra week or two of rolling and slowly getting the grass in the right condition.”
Black Caps T20 captain Michael Bracewell and Australian T20 captain Mitch Marsh on Mount Main Beach ahead of the Chappell-Hadlee KFC T201 series at Bay Oval. Photo / Willy Nicholls
Adding to the complexity is the fact that Bay Oval will host all three matches of the T20 series. Fortunately, Carter said the format makes things more manageable.
“If it was one-day cricket, it might be a bit different. But with only 120 overs of cricket, we’ll keep to the same pitch for all three games,” he said.
“The days in between are just about judging moisture management — whether we add a bit of juice or keep it covered.”
The series also comes with a nostalgic twist. With the Black Caps donning retro beige kits, Bay Oval has been affectionately dubbed the “Beige Oval” for the week — and the ground staff are getting into the spirit.
“We love that sort of stuff,” Carter laughed. “All the boys have grown moustaches of various shapes and sizes. You might even see the odd wig.”
Carter, who has been at Bay Oval for 15 years, said it’s been rewarding to see the venue evolve.
“It’s pretty cool to be part of,” he said, speaking from beneath the new pavilion. “Just seeing the progress and being involved in creating space for spectators and everyone who turns up here — it’s pretty special.”
With the pitch in good shape and the team embracing the retro vibe, Carter and his crew are set to deliver a memorable start to the summer.
The Chappell-Hadlee KFC T201 series starts today with game one at the Bay Oval. Game two is on Friday, and game three on Saturday.