C Randall: Surprise choice Wood signs on and prepares for new life (29 Jul 1998)

29 July 1998

Surprise choice Wood signs on and prepares for new life

By Charles Randall

Chris Wood, the English Cricket Board's surprise choice as their new pitches consultant, has signed terms of employment and immediately began to lay plans for a new life away from the leafy surrounds of Shenley Park, the MCC's country home of cricket.

Leaving the Shenley groundsman's job and his home - an Edwardian lodge in the park - means farewell to a Hertfordshire beauty spot far removed from the furore that greeted news of his appointment over the weekend.

Several groundsmen on the county circuit were indignant that their five applicants had been rejected and at least one chief executive felt Wood's promotion represented a slight on the county clubs. But it became apparent yesterday that there would be no turning back for the ECB.

Wood was told by the powers at Lord's not to comment, but he did disclose that he had taken two weeks to accept the ECB's offer and that he might need a thick skin to see the job through.

Wood, 47, an Institute of Groundsmanship lecturer, joins the ECB on Dec 1 and takes over Harry Brind's role on his retirement at the end of next season.

The Yorkshireman will be become a pitches inspector, with the power to recommend sanctions against any county, but the ECB have been anxious to point out that most of the job entails organising seminars, lecturing and so on.

Brian Murgatroyd, an ECB official, said: "Certainly, there's no slight intended against the counties. It wasn't an arbitrary decision and was taken with clear consideration. We're looking to the future - it's a longer term appointment. A lot of senior groundsmen on the circuit are in their fifties and sixties."

Peter Marron, the Lancashire groundsman, was expected to get the job. He was advised not to comment by Lancashire, though his reaction to the news was apparently a shrug of the shoulders and a resigned smile.

Though Shenley Park has won praise as a first-class ground, Wood has had little county experience, preferring to spend much of his 30-year career at Enfield Cricket Club after assisting Brind at the Oval, where he started as an apprentice fast bowler.

Wood is an enthusiastic lecturer for the IoG and his credentials look more than adequate. It appears he was head-hunted by the ECB - they would not comment on this aspect - and problems might arise through his low credibility among some of the senior county groundsmen if he were to inspect their pitches.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)