Non Turf Installations (continued)

The "Test Match" system is an England and Wales Cricket Board approved system consisting of the tried and tested combination of hard porous aggregate over a consolidated stone base.

To protect the base aggregates the excavation is lined with a porous geo-textile before laying the stone foundation. In the playing area a second geo-textile is included to separate the stone and specially selected hard porous layer. AP10 Shockpad is fitted over the base, to protect the smooth texture of the prepared hard porous base, before the chosen surface is laid and fixed.

This provides a pitch on which the playing characteristics will alter with the climate and the compaction in the base. Rolling consolidates the aggregates, increasing pace and bounce, and watering will soften the base, to achieve the opposite effect. Like grass the pitch will be faster in summer than early spring.

Pace & Bounce

The range is from medium to very fast paced with bounce half stump to above stump high.

• Rebound Bounce Parameters 12 - 25%.

Stump "Boxes"

To allow the use of conventional stumps the stone and hard porous is removed to a depth of 75-100mm. This depth accommodates the point of a standard stump without breaking the lining of the base. Rather than a rigid timber frame the area is lined with geo-textile before being filled with clay soil. This stops the soil mixing with the aggregates without creating a hard edge under the surface.

Low Maintenance

The "Test Match" system has a combination of features designed to reduce maintenance and improve the longevity of the base. These set it apart from other designs constructed on similar principles and provide the "ultimate" low maintenance design whilst retaining changeable performance.

The geo-textile lining the base of the excavation prevents erosion and contamination, particularly worm infestation, of the system, and the second layer between the two types of aggregate prevents these from mixing in the crucial playing areas. The AP10 Shockpad protects the hard porous surface from being damaged during use, particularly when the base is wet.

This eliminates the need to roll after use during wet conditions, in order to keep the surface smooth, and reduces the risk of having to remove the surface to attend directly to the hard porous.

 

Surfaces

In addition to its ECB Approved form, including the Wilton Woven Superverde surface, the "Test Match" system is also available with the lower cost fibre-bonded Scanabowl surface.