Magazine - Molyneux Park New Groundsman

By Editor in Cricket on 13th Jan 2010 13:00

Newly appointed Molyneux Park groundsman Wayne Walker has been honing his craft at the University Oval for the past seven years and is ready for a fresh challenge.

The 53-year-old former freezing worker switched the butcher's blade for a ride-on lawn mower when he decided to do a certificate in sports turf management about 10 years ago. Once he completed his studies, he got a job at the University Oval under the watchful eye of former head groundsman Danny Greig and more recently Tom Tamati.

Having served a lengthy apprenticeship, Walker is "dead keen" to start his new role. He replaces former groundsman Richard McAlevey, who was sacked late last year after the popular venue failed to regain a New Zealand Cricket warrant of fitness. "I'm in a wee bit of a hard place talking about that because I did the [turf management] course with Richard and we know each other," Walker said.

Molyneux Park in Alexandra lost its warrant of fitness following poor pitch reports during the 2008-09 season and McAlevey was effectively placed on notice.

Walker knows how important it is to get the pitch up to scratch. Elite cricket has been played at the venue for more than 30 years and it is his job to get it back. "It is a tough job but it is a good job, too.

You're outside and no two days are the same. You're always doing some-thing different."

Walker has had a solid grounding. During his tenure, the University Oval has hosted three tests, a touring match for Sri Lanka and England and will host its first one-day international next month. "Probably the biggest challenge will be going from working with a team to basically working on my own," Walker said.

He will get the help of a part-time worker but it is "pretty much" a sole-charge position. The other major difference will be the weather. "The climate is a bit better there. It might take a wee bit of time to find out how it works."


Source & More: www.odt.co.nz
By Adrian Seconi

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