The Western Province Cricket Association cannot afford a full-time groundsman.
Braam Mong has been Newlands’ groundsman since replacing Iprisaam Adams two years ago. Adams had previously assisted Evan Flint, who did an excellent job from 2008 to 2019 before being poached by the Central Gauteng Lions for the Wanderers.
Mong has been in the firing line since preparing a green pitch with cracks for the second Test between the Proteas and India at Newlands that resulted in excessive seam movement and variable bounce.
As a result, South Africa were bowled out for 55 just before lunch on a first day in which 23 wickets fell in 75.1 overs, with the entire match lasting just 107 overs.
According to Rapport newspaper, the pitch problems could have been avoided had a process known as verti-cutting – involving cutting the grass with a machine with vertical blades – been applied. However, this should have happened six weeks ago.
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Rapport revealed that Mong does not work exclusively for WP, due to the union’s financial problems, and is involved with other sports grounds in Cape Town.
Mong has also struggled to get money from WP for fungicides and fertilisers, while the pitch staff’s salaries were not always paid on time.
