JAMES, D. M., CARRE, M. J. and HAAKE, S. J. (2005). Predicting
the playing character of cricket pitches. Sports engineering, 8
(4), 193-207.Full text not available from this repository. A
cricket pitch is a prepared strip of compacted soil and closely
mown turf onto which the bowler projects the ball. The surface
is of fundamental importance to the game and groundstaff seek to
ensure that the ball rebound is of sufficient pace, bounce and
consistency to promote skill in both the batsman and bowler. The
scientific understanding of the factors that influence the
playing quality of a pitch is incomplete and groundstaff often
rely on experience and ‘rules of thumb’. A major programme of
research was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of a
range of pitch measurement apparatus that are perceived to
provide indications of playing character. Over three seasons, 18
fieldwork visits were completed at 11 different first-class
county grounds. Pitches were tested at the end of each match and
direct assessments of p