Creating and Maintaining the Best Turf for Backyard Cricket
- Bradman Museum
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Backyard cricket is a summer tradition, and a good pitch makes all the difference. Here’s how to create and maintain the perfect turf for the scene of the greatest neighbourhood rivalry this season.
Phil Kerr, Grounds Curator for Bradman Oval adds his own specialised insights into getting the best from your grass. Phil says, ‘couch is an ideal turf for a cricket pitch and if your soil is high in clay it will help create the firmness of the wicket.’
Choose the Right Spot: Pick a flat, open section of your lawn, ideally 10–12 metres long. Avoid areas with big bumps, holes, or tree roots.
Mow and Prepare: Keep the turf on the pitch short, around 5–10mm to ensure a consistent bounce. Longer grass in the outfield slows the ball and protects your plants. Fill low spots with a soil-and-sand mix and lightly compact the area. ‘Bradman Oval is cut to 8mm with a Toro cylinder mower prior to every game during the season, probably about once a week,’ Phil advises.
Mark Your Creases: (this is just an optional tip, a garbage bin will always do the trick) Use chalk, a marking spray or string to mark the creases and boundaries. Use cones is just as effective.
Maintain Your Turf: Water lightly and regularly and let the pitch rest between matches. Occasional fertiliser helps the grass recover and stay healthy all season. Phil suggests maintaining a reasonable amount of water in the soil profile to prevent cracks and fertilise every six weeks with a granular fertiliser watered in well.
You can use a turf roller at home to create the firmness of the wicket. These can be bought at a hardware store or hired for the day and filled with water. Phil uses a three tonne roller on the Bradman Oval but you don’t need to be driving one of these down your street.
So, make your own rules (these will always be hotly contested by at least three players), grab your bat and ball and rope in your friends, family and neighbours for a great summer of backyard cricket. Legends aren’t just made at the SCG, they’re made between backyard fences among the lemon tree and the clothesline.
