User:Andrew John Atkinson

Andy Atkinson is the Pitch Consultant for the International Cricket Council, the games governing body. Born in Essex in the UK he has been involved with the construction,preparation and maintenance of Sports surfaces since 1975.

PERSONAL PROFILE: A Sports Turf Manager-Curator with world wide experience and understanding of the techniques required for the preparation of top quality International cricket pitches, practice facilities and outfields. Has also had experience in the preparation and maintenance of International Rugby Union and soccer pitches alongside preparation of fine turf surfaces for Lawn bowls and Lawn tennis grass courts in the UK and South Africa. Has extensive experience of sports ground construction, maintenance and management in the UK as well as vast experience of managing warm season Bermuda grasses and the heavy clay cracking soils used for cricket pitches found in sub tropical and tropical environments world wide. Career History 2003 to date: ICC Pitch Consultant: The Remit with the ICC is to ensure that the playing and practice facilities at the venues used by them for their events such as Cricket World Cup, Champions Trophy, The World T-20 championship, U-19 World Cup are prepared and maintained to the highest standard as expected for a world class event.

Since 2003 has been responsible for the playing and practice facilities for the following ICC events: ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh 2004, Sri Lanka 2006 and Malaysia 2008, New Zealand 2010 and Australia 2012 ICC Champions Trophy in India 2006 and for the abandoned tournament in Pakistan in 2008. ICC World T-20 Championship in South Africa 2007, in England 2009, Caribbean in 2010 and is presently working towards the event in Sri Lanka later in 2012. ICC Cricket World Cup Caribbean 2007 Part of the Venue Assessment Team for CWC 2007 for the selection of the venues ICC CWC in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh 2011 Women’s World Cup in Australia 2009. ICC World League in Holland 2010.

Appointed by West Indies Cricket Board to oversee preparation of pitches for regional 50 over Tournament in Guyana and to run a Curators training workshop for all curators from the international venues around the Caribbean in 2011.

Seconded by ICC on request of Glamorgan CCC to oversee the renovation, maintenance and preparation of the pitch for the Ashes Test in 2009 and to supervise the installation of new drainage and irrigation systems and the reconstruction of the outfield prior to the 2009 season.

Appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board 2003-2004 for the Test and one day series against South Africa and New Zealand and India in Pakistan Also involved with the ICC’s project USA in 2004 to identify venues around the USA that could be used to promote cricket in that country.

In 2006 was appointed by IMG to prepare the playing surface at the King Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi for India v Pakistan international limited over matches.

2001 to 2003. The Shenley Cricket Centre, Radlett, Hertfordshire, UK Head Groundsman. Responsible for the preparation and maintenance of two cricket fields covering an area of ten acres with a ground staff of two who worked on a seasonal basis Middlesex CCC used the main ground named the Denis Compton Oval since 2001 to stage first class and second eleven fixtures against other counties and international touring teams. Awarded runners up prize for best pitches at an out ground used for county cricket by the English Cricket Board during 2003.

1999-2001 Self employed Independent sports ground consultant/contractor. During this period contracts involved consultancy, construction, renovation, management and maintenance of cricket pitches, practice nets, outfields, Bowling greens, Soccer and Rugby pitches and the installation of artificial cricket pitches for the following clubs and organizations. The International Cricket Council, (ICC Knockout in Kenya 2000) Mombasa Sports Club, (Kenya) Kenyan Cricket Association (Nairobi) The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka The Pakistan Cricket Board Centurion Park Investments, (Pretoria, SA). N.F Openhiemer, DeBeers Diamonds, (Johannesburg, SA) Zimbabwe Cricket Union Namibian Cricket Board

1997-99 The Transvaal/Gauteng Cricket Board, (Johannesburg, SA). Turf manager /Consultant, Wanderers Stadium. Responsible for the preparation of the pitches, practice facilities and outfield for all international and provincial fixtures staged at the stadium as well as being the pitches consultant to all of the league clubs in the Transvaal province.

During this period one third of the main pitch block was reconstructed and a fully automated under ground irrigation/ fertigation system was installed to the outfield. Also responsible for the supervision of the maintenance of the Soweto and Alexandria Township cricket grounds in conjunction with the local groundsmen.

1996-97. Wanderers Club Johannesburg Head Groundsman. Heading a ground staff of sixteen and four gardeners with responsibilities to maintain the Wanderers Stadium pitch, practice nets, outfield and to oversee the daily preparation of the sixty four hectares of the Wanderers club sports grounds which included four cricket ovals, five provincial standard Hockey pitches, three soccer pitches and two rugby grounds that were used by the Transvaal, South African and international touring teams for practice and training when they were in Johannesburg. My responsibilities also included the maintenance, preparation and renovation of four international Bowling greens and extensive lawns and gardens around the club. At the end of the 1996-97 season it was decided to separate the Management of the Wanderers Stadium and the Wanderers Club grounds as it was becoming increasingly demanding for one person to supervise alone the ever increasing demands of international and provincial cricket and the requirements of the Club.

1993-96 Western Province Cricket Club, Estate Manager. Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa After being recruited by the United Cricket Board of South Africa’s Managing Director Dr Ali Bacher, the main focus of the position was to reconstruct and reposition the main square of ten pitches, extend the outfield and reinstall the irrigation and drainage systems, construct a new practice area including ten new pitches at the Newlands Cricket ground whilst still making the facilities available for first class and Test match cricket. This project was completed over a period of three years and at the conclusion of the 1995-96 the umpires and captains marked the pitches as the best in South Africa.

As the estates manager he was also responsible for supervising the clubs other facilities which included of four cricket ovals, two provincial bowling Greens, six field hockey pitches and two soccer pitches at various locations around the Newlands area of Cape Town with a staff of twelve.

During this period several other events were staged including a soccer match between Cape Town Spurs and Liverpool F.C,three pop concerts with Tina Turner, Cliff Richard and Gloria Estefan appearing. In 1995 during the Rugby World Cup the outfield was used for a corporate entertainment area that housed thirty full sized marquees for the duration of the tournament.

1990-93: Warwickshire County Cricket Club, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK Head Groundsman. Responsible for the preparation and maintenance of the main stadium, two practice grounds, colts ground and gardens. Part of the remit was to reconstruct the main pitch area of the stadium including the drainage of the outfield. During this period he was tasked with bringing back into play four of the pitches that had been reconstructed prior to his appointment and to reconstruct four more pitches including the Test Match pitches. This project was successfully completed with a noticeable improvement to the quality of the pitches by the 1993 season.

1982-1990: Essex County Cricket Club, Chelmsford, UK Head Groundsman. Employed to prepare the pitches at the county ground in Chelmsford plus to oversee and supervise the preparation of the grounds at Ilford, Southend and Colchester that were used by the county team for festival cricket weeks during the summer as well as supervising the preparation of all second eleven county fixtures within the county. During this period the outfield at Chelmsford was installed with an underground drainage system, which vastly improved the playability and the general condition of the ground. Throughout this period Essex CCC had their most successful period when they won six trophies in five years. In 1990 the captains and umpires marked the pitches used for Essex home matches as the best in the County championship for that season.

1982: Surrey County Cricket Club, The Oval, London UK Assistant Groundsman. 1980-81: Irish Rugby Football Union, Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Eire Head Groundsman. Responsible for the upkeep and preparation of the main stadium pitch for all International and Provincial Rugby games, plus two pitches at the rear of the stadium used by the Lansdowne and Wanderers club sides. The Republic of Ireland soccer team also used the stadium pitch for European and World Cup qualifying games. 1978-80 Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Assistant Groundsman Involved with all aspects of preparation of Lords for international and county cricket

1973-78 Rochford and District Council Trainee Groundsman, Involved with the preparation of Soccer, Rugby and Hockey pitches in the winter months and Cricket pitches, Bowling Greens and Lawn Tennis Courts in the summer.

Attended Turf Management Courses at the following institutions; 1984: University of Wales soil science unit; The topics covered were Soil Science, Turf Nutrition, Soil pests; Grass identification, Eradication and treatment of weeds and funguses, identification of problems and problem solving within the soil profile and construction methods for turf playing surfaces. 1987: The Sports Turf Research Unit, Bingley, Yorkshire, UK An intensive course covering advanced Turf management techniques including Drainage, Irrigation, the use of sand amendments on Soccer and Rugby pitches, The principles of Golf course management, preparation and construction of Greens and Teeing areas, principles of airflow around and shade from trees around greens and tees and shade problems within sports stadiums that result in the formation of micro climates. 1994: The Cape Technikon (South Africa) A diploma course covering all aspects of Turf grass management in a sub tropical climate including a basic introduction to soil science, control of insects, irrigation techniques, grass morphology, photosynthesis, mechanical and cultural control of the turf, grass and seed identification and time, motion and effective management of staff. 2000: Cranfield University soil science department to attend an Institute of Groundsmanship, England and Wales Cricket Board course for pitch inspectors/advisers concerned with the award of Lottery grants. After attending the course I was appointed as an ECB county pitch advisor. 2002: Attended IOG/ECB/FA course at Bisham Abbey for instructor training to become an instructor for the IOG so that I am able to run their level 1&2 groundsmans courses Qualified to conduct courses for the ECB/ IOG

Email:andy.atkinson@icc-cricket.com