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Few people know the unique character of the wicket block at Hagley Oval better than Rupert Bool, who helped build the ground in 2012 and has had a decade of experience managing the turf there. Getting the pitch at its best is a big responsibility, particularly for big international games, like the BLACKCAPS vs India ODI coming up at the end of November.

“You know there will be millions of people watching all around the world, so there is that pressure to prepare the pitch to the highest standard possible for the players, to ensure it’ll be a good game,” Rupert says. “It’s the preparation you’re putting in two to three months beforehand that makes a good pitch.”

This month (October) sees the start of the T20 international tri-series, with Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Pakistan batting it out at Hagley through to the final on 14 October.

Hagley Oval is also hosting men’s and women’s domestic competitions this summer.

Whether it’s Canterbury domestic cricket or an international game, Rupert says the focus of the grounds team is always on producing a high-quality surface. It’s a constant and complex business getting good grass cover in the right condition at the right time. “You’re always doing different things: managing moisture, applying fertiliser, grooming the grass, and rolling. It’s a cumulative process that involves a lot of effort and attention to detail.”

Rupert grew up in Rangiora and went to high school at Christchurch Boys’, honing his love for cricket along the way. He got his start in turf management as a casual helper during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln in 2000. “I knew I was a rubbish cricketer, but I wanted to be involved in the sport. The experience at Lincoln really sparked my interest in turf management, so I then went straight into a three-year apprenticeship with New Zealand Cricket.”

Before returning to Christchurch in 2012, Rupert worked at the cricket ground Seddon Park in Hamilton. His career in grounds management now spans 20 years. A satisfying career highlight earlier this year was managing the turf at Hagley Oval for the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, the same tournament that originally kicked off his interest in the field in 2000.

Rupert says the wicket block at Hagley Oval is exceptionally well built and rates the quality of the playing surface and outfields as world-class. Hagley Oval has received accolades for the quality of its pitch, acknowledged over the past decade at NZ Cricket turf management awards.

The block’s 11 cricket pitches are made from Kakanui clay, covered with ryegrass … and not any old ryegrass either. “It’s a type of ryegrass (Spartacus) that’s bred for sports turf. It’s grown from very high-end seed that we’re lucky to have available in New Zealand.”

Having served at Hagley Oval for 10 years, Rupert has recently stepped into a broader role as Hagley Park Manager, with part of the role mentoring young up-and-comers starting their own sports turf careers.

For tickets to the 2022/23 summer of cricket, go to tickets.nzc.nz

Pitch perfect at Hagley Oval