Ten cricket pitches are being installed in new stadiums built in preparation for next month's T20 World Cup, stretching up the US east coast from Florida to New York.
The “drop-in pitch” has been in preparation since December in Florida and was recently transported by 20 tractor-trailer trucks along the I-95 freeway to the Long Island venue.
The surface, which will soon be used in matches including the much-anticipated clash between cricketing giants India and Pakistan, was developed by Australian Damien Hough, curator of Adelaide Oval.
Due to winter conditions in New York, the lawn had to be grown in the warmer climate of Florida before being transported and installed.
Huff said the trip from his base in Boynton Beach, Florida, to Nassau County, New York, took more than 24 hours, with regular stops to inspect the grass and replenish water.
“From a turf standpoint, we made sure the weather and the elements didn't affect the turf in terms of wind and rain. They got through, and with what we've received so far, we couldn't be happier. “They had a great result,” Huff said.
The condition of the cricket pitch, also known as the wicket or track, has a significant impact on the game, influencing the speed and bounce of the ball and the amount of spin and movement off the ball's seam available to the bowler. .
Chris Tetley, head of events for the International Cricket Council, the organizer of the World Cup, which is co-hosted by the United States and several Caribbean countries, said creating the pitches was a major logistical challenge for the companies involved.
“The logistics were amazing, moving 10 pitches with 20 trucks and backup trucks, route planning, timing of crossings, I can't remember how many states,” Tetley said.
“The permits, the transportation considerations, the timing of crossing the bridges, and we wanted to make sure the trays were out of the ground in as short a time as possible to take agricultural materials through different states, it was very difficult. It was impressive,” he added.
The temporary 34,000-seat stadium at Eisenhower Park has already been constructed with stands, hospitality areas, and an outfield.
Hough said the surface would likely be the typical type used in T20 matches, where fans expect big shots from batsmen.
“Our goal is to create quality pitches, minimal spin, minimal seams and pitches that follow the line of the ball hitting the bat and get players to take shots,” he said.
The first World Cup match at the venue will be between Sri Lanka and South Africa on June 3, but organizers are planning a number of test events before then.
Much of the stand's materials were used from F1 motor racing and will be dismantled after the World Cup.
However, the international standard playing surface will remain and may be used for local cricket.
“The physical structures we installed will be removed and the park will return to grassland, but the legacy of a world-class cricket pitch will remain,” Mr Tetley said.
“There will also be a training facility that we have developed, which will ultimately give the cricket community access to world-class facilities.
“As for what this space becomes in the future, it depends on what the local cricket community, Nassau County and USA Cricket want to do with this space. It's there and it's available,” he said.
Cricket remains a fringe sport in the United States, but it is an avid fan, especially among immigrant communities from the Indian subcontinent and the Caribbean.
Last year saw the launch of Major League Cricket, a new T20 tournament held in a renovated minor league baseball stadium near Dallas, Texas.
The Grand Prairie venue will also host World Cup games, as well as the nation's first international-standard venue in Lauderhill, South Florida.
Major League Cricket attracts a large number of international players, with former Australian captain Steve Smith recently signing up to play for this year's Washington Freedom, which kicks off in July.
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