Cricket: Dixon defends Dean Park pitch (From Bournemouth Echo)

Cricket: Dixon defends Dean Park pitch

7:00am Friday 10th July 2009 in

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GROUNDSMAN Andy Dixon has defended his work at Dean Park after the playing surface came under fire.

Berkshire manager David Morris, speaking after his side’s eight-wicket defeat by Dorset on Tuesday, said it was a pitch “both teams felt was under prepared by an inexperienced groundsman”.

Dorset’s match-winning bowler Ed Denham described the wicket as “not brilliant”, while county boss Sean Walbridge also revealed his concerns.

But Dixon, who took on the role after the long-serving John Fazackerley retired last year, told the Echo: “I’m 38 and have been doing groundsman work since I was 24, as well as four years studying on top.

“The criticism is definitely un-fair. I also feel the wicket stood up to three days of play with no damage whatsoever. There’s not one mark left by the ball and I think that says it all about the wicket.

“They needed a wicket to last three days and that’s what it did.”

Owned by the Cooper Dean Estate, the venue has been leased by Bournemouth University since 1995.

Walbridge said: “We’ve spoken to Andy about our concerns that maybe it lacks preparation and it is probably not what it was in previous years.

“We’ve had issues previously with the university and Andy, but have been given every assurance that he’s just new to the facility and is finding his feet.”

Dixon, who admits the pitch is not perfect, is confident there will be an improvement next summer, after he has had the opportunity to carry out the necessary autumn renovation work, which was not done this year.