Visakhapatnam: Cricketing ground staff cry for attention

Visakhapatnam: Be it a high-scoring venue in New Zealand or a turning track in India or a fast and bouncy pitch in South Africa, the strenuous effort of Curators and ground staff often go unnoticed. While the credit goes for a batsman or a bowler who outperforms in a match, it is rather disappointing that the hard work of these ground staff, who work throughout the year to make the pitch ready for the players is barely recognised.

Dr YSR ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam has become the first choice standby venue by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). "The successful organisation of six IPL games in 2016 and an ODI match last year apart from IPL Eliminator and Qualifier II this year, show the capability of the ACA-VDCA team and the ground staff. We are glad that BCCI recognised VDCA to conduct the matches any time," said curator of the stadium K Naga Mallaiah.

The ground staff maintain the pitch by watering the ground daily apart from maintaining an appropriate length of grass and rolling it regularly. T Rama Krishna, a groundman at the stadium, said "I love my job because it not only supports my family financially but also gives me an opportunity to meet cricket stars whenever they play here. We also attend an annual seminar conducted by ACA apart from four summer classes in order to learn new developments in this field and to keep ourselves updated." While the cricketers and officials respond and treat them warmly, these unheard warriors feel that their profession deserves recognition. B Appala Narasaiah, a young groundman, said, "The VDCA staff and our curator respect us and treat us like a family. Based on our efficiency at work, we are at times sent to help the ground staff at the stadiums in Guntur, Vizianagaram, Mulapadu and Railway stadiums."

With a team of four men and four women at the main stadium and few others at the B ground, the ground staff takes care of pitch in all seasons. Ch Adi Babu, B Y Reddy, T Rama Krishna, B Appala Narasaiah, P Kondamma, A Thoudamma, G Rajamma and P Sabitha form a part of ground staff at the stadium.