The So Solid Crew

When it comes to cricket runs, wickets and catches are important. However, batsmen and bowlers - even ones as talented as Matty T and Wayne "Big Pain" Cutts - pale into insignificance when it comes to having a reliable grounds crew. 

Today Offley & Stopsley are tremendously lucky to have not one, but two, dedicated groundsmen who do their best to ensure that the pitch is always in pristine condition. 

This is Steve. 

Steve has been the head groundsman at Offley for many years. During that time he has often ploughed a lone furrow on his tractor, stolidly doing the job with noble sufferance and never once telling anyone how much the job demands of him and how thankless it can be. 

OK, maybe once or twice, Steve has admitted it's hard work. 

Over time Steve has experimented with different lengths of grass in a bid to get more bounce in the wicket. Although this scientific approach does not always come to fruition, Steve always puts maximum effort into his surfaces and the club know they are very lucky to have him.

This is Ian. 

Ian became Steve's assistant this year. Steve knows he is very lucky to have Ian but it's important to maintain a hierarchy and show that Steve is in charge. 

Ian isn't allowed to drive the tractor - he doesn't have enough seniority and experience. 

Instead he's allowed to push the wheelbarrow. 

His greatest wish is to one day be allowed to mark out the pitch.

Ian isn't always the happiest soul - he doesn't always take time in life to stop and smell the flowers. 

As you can see here he's pushing the wheelbarrow past the flowers without stopping to smell them.

Despite this Ian is an invaluable assistant to Steve and the two of them have put in lots of hours on the pitch already this season and spent lots more hours discussing the pitch and how they can improve it.

These long conversations make Ian's wife Lou very pleased that Ian has got a new hobby and now spends a lot of time out of the house helping Steve with the pitch.