Building a School Cricket Ground That Drains After Rain

A school ground takes more wear than almost any other grass: daily PE classes, inter-house matches, sports days and events, plus the monsoon. Whether a ground can be played on the morning after rain, or stays waterlogged for days, depends mostly on what is under the surface.

Step 1: How should the ground be levelled?

Start with a survey of the ground's levels. The design gives the surface a gentle, even slope, so water runs off instead of forming puddles. The slope stays slight enough for fair play. Levelling with laser-guided machines gives a much more even surface than levelling by eye.

Step 2: What drainage does a cricket ground need?

A slope alone cannot clear heavy monsoon rain. You also need drainage under the surface. Pipes with holes are laid in gravel-filled trenches, usually in a herringbone (V) pattern. They carry water to an outlet or a rainwater harvesting pit. On heavy clay soil, thin sand-filled cuts across the surface help water reach the drains faster.

Step 3: Which grass suits the outfield?

The outfield grass grows in a sandy layer laid over the drainage, which lets water pass through quickly. Bermuda grass, known locally as doob, is the most widely used grass for this in India. It handles heat and heavy use, and recovers quickly. It can be grown from small cuttings or laid as ready turf. It needs a few weeks to a few months to settle before the ground can be fully used.

Step 4: How is the pitch built?

The pitch is built separately from the outfield. It uses clay-rich soil, pressed down in layers, so it plays firm and even. It needs regular rolling, mowing and preparation before matches. Practice nets with artificial pitches take daily wear away from the main pitch.

Step 5: What about a running track?

A track around the ground needs a firm base, edging and its own drainage. The surface you choose, such as murram (red gravel), cinder or a synthetic surface, decides both the cost and how much upkeep the track needs.

Plan the work so the grass has fully settled before the school year starts. A ground opened too early gets damaged before the roots take hold.

Step 6: How is the ground kept in shape?

Sprinklers or pop-up sprinklers keep the outfield even through the dry months. A maintenance calendar should cover mowing, aerating, top dressing, feeding, weed control and rest periods after heavy use. Agree early who will look after the ground after handover.

Our work

We built a cricket ground, a multi-lane running track and the drainage under them for Angels Public School, Faridabad. See our sports ground services.