Merchant Taylors School, Northwood
Boom Construction Ltd and Durant Cricket collaborated to successfully complete an impressive sports facility at Merchant Taylors’ School in Northwood. This state-of-the-art cricket center stands as a loving memory to Julian Hill, an esteemed alumnus and old boy of the school.
Aligned with Merchant Taylors’ well-known commitment to sporting excellence and our own dedication to perfection, the installation was meticulously designed to adhere to specific key principles outlined by Merchant Taylors’ during the consultation phase.
The project had a pronounced and primary objective: to create a facility that could cater to a diverse range of students, regardless of their cricketing backgrounds. Whether the students were novices eager to explore the intricacies of the sport or potential academy prospects refining their skills, every aspect of the facility was carefully crafted with thoughtful precision.
At the heart of this cricketing haven are five distinct cricket lanes, each intentionally equipped with varied surfaces. The deliberate diversity in playing conditions transformed the center into a dynamic testing ground, strategically tailored to challenge and foster the holistic development of students attending Merchant Taylors’ School.
The positive impact of the new cricket center extends beyond the school grounds, given Merchant Taylors’ close affiliation with Middlesex County Cricket Club. This collaboration ensures that the benefits of these cutting-edge facilities are not limited to students alone; Middlesex CC also enjoys the advantages. The synergistic relationship between the school and the cricket club provided a unique opportunity for both parties to experience the capabilities of this elite facility.
Merchant Taylors’ new Julian Hill indoor Cricket Centres facilities. Courtesy of ourselves at Durant Cricket and Boom construction Ltd.
Fundraising for the Julian Hill Indoor Cricket Centre continues and while it will strengthen cricket facilities at Merchant Taylors’ School it will also provide funding for bursaries through lettings income.
1. Shock padding and foundations
After Boom Construction completed the foundational work for the indoor center, enough time was allowed to pass before we proceeded with the installation of shock padding. The decision to install shock padding was driven by the recognition of padding’s reliability in preserving performance, ensuring safety, and preserving the longevity of the facility.
Shock padding not only mitigates wear and tear on the facility and safeguards foundations against long-term deterioration but also delivers a vital cushioning effect. This effect helps reduce the impact on players’ joints and muscles during play, thereby substantially decreasing the risk of injuries, particularly those affecting the knees and ankles.
2. Non-turf and Flooring
After the shock pad installation, Boom Construction turned its attention to implementing lighting designed specifically for superior indoor cricket performance. Our subsequent task involved the installation of our specialized non-turf surfaces and flooring. With Merchant Taylor’s aspiration for an elite facility to assess their youth prospects, we implemented a range of surfaces, showcasing surfaces that would be reminiscent of the final days of a test match.
DCI Pro Playing Surface
Specialist Woven Spin Carpets
Fielding Area Carpet
3. Netting
The subsequent phase involved the installation of the netting. Merchant Taylor’s School chose a 5-bay system, aligning with their preference for varied surfaces whilst ensuring consistent play opportunities for their abundance of enthusiastic young cricket players.
Our process of installing Merchant Taylors’ netting involved the following steps: Identify and secure attachment points on the ceiling, ensuring they are anchored to the building’s structure and capable of supporting the weight and force of cricket balls. Hang the netting from these ceiling attachment points, ensuring proper stretching and secure fastening. Then position the netting to establish clear 4 metre wide batting lanes, the designated bowling area, as well as Merchant Taylors’ large bespoke fielding area approximately 20 metres in width.
4. Markings and Final touches
After meticulously measuring, installing, and verifying the nets, our team proceeded to delicately apply markings for each lane. Our specialized white paint, designed to dry quickly and resist gradual friction, was chosen to withstand regular use and the potential impact from Middlesex CC’s fast bowlers. Along each bay, creases 22, 21, and 20 yards from the batting-end were painted down the bowling-end which were meticulously etched, along with a standard crease at the batting end. Simultaneously, comprehensive cleaning, maintenance, and quality checks were carried out across the entire facility.
This thorough approach was undertaken to ensure that every aspect met the highest standards, guaranteeing a top-tier environment in preparation for the upcoming usage of the cricket facility.
5. Completion
Once we had been notified that the rest of the Julian Hill Centre was complete, two members of our team did a final site visit to ensure the facility still met our high standards. After some further hoovering, ensuring any debris or dust was removed we were then satisfied and removed any remaining scaffolding.
The successful completion of the project marked the culmination of meticulous planning, dedicated effort, and craftsmanship. With the installation of shock pads, non-turf surfaces, dedicated fielding area, netting, and the careful application of lane markings, the indoor cricket center at Merchant Taylor’s School reached its final form.
Merchant Taylors' Timelapse
Our timelapse captures the gradual evolution of Merchant Taylors’ Cricket Centre, in tribute to Julian Hill. This facility has been meticulously designed to provide a diverse range of opportunities for students with varying cricketing backgrounds. From novices to potential academy prospects, every aspect has been crafted with thoughtful precision. At the heart of the centre are five distinctive cricket lanes, each intentionally equipped with different surfaces. This intentional variety serves as a testing ground, tailored to challenge and foster the development of the students at Merchant Taylors’ School.
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