Grass wicket project starts

Jan 20, 2004

UGANDA Cricket Association has finally started laying a modern grass wicket at Lugogo cricket oval.<br>Perfect Bounce, a South African grass wicket company, is constructing a four-strip wicket that could see Uganda attain a One-Day International (ODI) status and also host international matches.

By Ronnie Kintu

UGANDA Cricket Association has finally started laying a modern grass wicket at Lugogo cricket oval.
Perfect Bounce, a South African grass wicket company, is constructing a four-strip wicket that could see Uganda attain a One-Day International (ODI) status and also host international matches.

Thys Carstens, an expert from South Africa, arrived in the country on Monday to start the project that will take over three months before playing starts at Lugogo oval.

“I believe this is a good step forward for the association. Our work is to perfectly lay the wicket which will be done in a few days and then the maintenance is for the grounds management here,” Carstens remarked.

Carstens visited the country last November and highly recommended that UCA establishes grass wickets at Entebbe, Lugogo, Kyambogo and Jinja ovals.

The grass wicket is a natural playing area with special grass planted on clay which is constantly rolled, watered and cut. Uganda has in the past played on mats, all-weather turf and cement which are no longer highly recommended by the ICC. All ICC events are played on grass wickets.

Perfect Bounce has established grass wickets in Namibia, some regions in South Africa and has been invited in Kenya.

Meanwhile, Paul Nsibuka, the chairman selection committee has named the final 16 players on the U-19 squad to travel to India for build up matches ahead of the Youth World Cup in February.

Left arm bowlers Charles Waiswa and David Kateyenge were dropped from the 18-man squad camped in Lugogo.

Uganda will play South Africa on February 16 and England and Nepal respectively in the qualifying rounds.

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