Dubai , 12 June 2008GCA’s head curator travels to Pakistan to teach the scientific approach to the best cricket surfaces
The ICC Global Cricket Academy ’s (GCA) head curator has been to Pakistan to present a seminar on the art of preparing pitches.
Following a visit to Dubai Sports City , the Pakistan Cricket Board invited Tony Hemming to Lahore to talk to more than 30 participants about pitch construction, preparation and measuring pitch performance. He also discussed environmental issues, planning for Test matches and effective record keeping.
Mr Hemming said the three-day course was very rewarding.
“The International Cricket Council’s GCA is committed to improving all areas of the game and the seminar allowed ground staff from Pakistan to come together to discuss the art of preparing a cricket pitch,” he said.
The invited guests were treated to a presentation on the construction of Dubai Sports City ’s 25,000-seater cricket stadium with details on how soil brought over from Pakistan was being used in the building of the pitch.
“To develop cricketers of the future, we also need to develop young curators who have an educational science background that can work alongside the more experienced curators. In time they will be producing pitches that can favour a more entertaining game on the Asian sub-continent,” Mr Hemming added.
Mr Hemming is a highly experienced curator with more than 20 years experience. He worked at the Melbourne Cricket Club in his native Australia , Surrey County Cricket Club in England and he also managed the grounds-keeping at Optus Oval and the Telstra Dome in Melbourne and Aurora Stadium in Tasmania .
He later moved to the Middle East where he oversaw the grounds management of King Fahd International Stadium in Saudi Arabia . He now lives in Dubai where he oversees Dubai Sports City ’s turf management department incorporating the role of head curator of the GCA.
The GCA, which is based at Dubai Sports City , is building wickets that replicate playing conditions across the world. It is envisaged that this will help to attract many of the top teams and also to provide a wide spectrum of coaching in what will be a unique environment.
“Part of our role at the GCA is to ensure that we share good practice across all of the cricket-playing nations and we are perfectly placed to facilitate these hugely productive meetings,” said the GCA’s General Manager Marc Archer.
About Dubai Sports City
Dubai Sports City (DSC), the cornerstone project of Dubailand, is a US$4billion, 50 million square-foot, mixed-use development which will be the world’s first integrated, purpose-built sports city.
The development will be built around five major sports venues:
A 60,000-capacity multi-purpose outdoor stadium for football, rugby, athletics and other sports and non-sports events
A 10,000-seater multi-purpose indoor arena suitable for all hard-court sports as well as concerts and other events and also including a removable ice rink
A 25,000-capacity cricket stadium, expandable to 30,000, with state-of-the-art facilities for players, match officials, VIPs, spectators and the media
A 5,000-seater field hockey stadium
A 72-par, 18-hole championship golf course designed by Ernie Els
In addition to the stadia, Dubai Sports City will feature a series of major sports academy facilities including:
Dubai Sports City Football Academy , the home of Manchester United Soccer Schools, Dubai
David Lloyd Tennis Academy
Butch Harmon School of Golf, the first such facility outside the United States
The International Cricket Council’s own Global Cricket Academy
The World Hockey Academy , a first-of-its-kind partnership with the International Hockey Federation
Top-class multi-sport training facilities including a gymnasium and a 50-metre swimming pool
World-class sports medicine and rehabilitation centre
Designed as a lifestyle development, Dubai Sports City will also feature comprehensive community facilities including:
Next Generation Country Club and spa facility
Large-scale shopping mall
Two retail hubs offering up-scale dining and boutique shopping
A range of schools
Medical facilities
Community centres
Hotels
Extensive residential projects
ICC MEDIA RELEASE