Warwickshire’s pre-season practice facilities are coming together at Edgbaston with a marquee now erected on the number one nets area.
The marquee, housing ten practice pitches, is in place and head groundsman Gary Barwell and his team are busy getting conditions just right for when the players start work in there in early February.
Everything we do to prepare the square outdoors, we have got to do in the marquee. The difference is that we can control the temperature and humidity.
Gary Barwell, Head Groundsman
“The marquee is up and I think it’s a really good idea because we will be able to provide the players effectively with outdoor conditions indoors until the weather improves and they are able to practice outdoors,” said Barwell.
“There are ten pitches in there and we will be in there yesterday morning working on the bowlers’ run-ups which obviously have got to be in good shape too.
“Everything we do to prepare the square outdoors, we have got to do in the marquee. The difference is that we can control the temperature and humidity.
“We have two huge de-humidifiers and they do a fantastic job. We left them on all weekend and on Friday it was pretty damp in there but when we got in yesterday it was perfectly dry. In fact, we have to be careful not to have the de-humidifiers on too much because they could make conditions too dry.
“We also use the heaters as and when necessary and when the players start working in there they will have very good practice conditions. Quite a few counties have gone down this route for pre-season practice before and I have spoken to them so that we can learn from their experiences.”
