ANTHONY Davis, Director of Sports at the University of Technology (UTech), has called on cricket administrators to implement new scientific methods as it relates to preparing pitches and outfields in Jamaica.

At a recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UTech and the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), Davis said his vision is to merge modern science with some of the basic components of cricket and to ultimately eliminate traditional “trial and error” methods of preparing pitches.

“I don’t think there is ever any scientific approach to, say, how much water to goes on it (the pitch), what type of clay to use or how heavy is the roller and that sort of thing.

“Traditionally, a youngster may hang out at a cricket ground and learn by trial and error how to prepare a pitch, so primarily what they are told is to wet it and to roll it.

“So what happens is that a captain may ask for a fast wicket to be prepared, but you don’t know what you get until the game starts. The pitch could be as dead as ever and you play four fast bowlers,” he said.

While initially the MOU will see eight promising players admitted to the Papine-based institution each year, Davis is optimistic that future programmes will also include teaching persons the art of pitch preparation and outfield maintenance.

“No disrespect to the (current) groundsmen, but we have to see the job of a curator as being important. We have to get people to study and graduate and come out with all that knowledge. There are scientific ways to prepare pitches and there are specific ways to handle turf management.

“The height of the grass is important and there is also a way to get the grass looking exceptionally green. There is scientific approach to doing that and we want to get persons to choose that as a career. Cricket must be better if you have playing surfaces around the country which are managed by people who are well-trained,” he said.

UTech has recently increased its scope of teaching programmes to include a Bachelor of Sports Science degree with specialisations in Athletic Training, Sports Management, and the Art and Science of Coaching.

Davis added that UTech has opened the possibility of having true multi-purpose fields on their Papine campus by using a removable pitch.

“As a university we’ve already started exploring the use of a drop-in wicket in places where space is an issue. You can have the pitch in something like a baking tin and put it in, then after the game you take it out and store it. So within a few hours after a cricket match is played, a particular surface could transformed into a fully-grassed football field. That’s what we are heading and aspiring to,” he said.