A New Era for Cricket Groundskeeping: Diversity Takes Centre Stage at Lord's

The hallowed turf of Lord's Cricket Ground has seen many historic moments but this week, something special took place. Not a final, nor a hundred; instead, a meaningful step toward a more inclusive and representative future for cricket grounds management.
Hosted by the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC), in partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Grounds Management Association (GMA), Professional Cricketers Association (PCA), and the African-Caribbean Engagement Programme (ACE) this landmark seminar was the second of its kind - the first having taken place at Edgbaston in 2024. With the support of Lord’s Head Groundsman Karl McDermott and senior figures in cricket, the event brought together people from across the country united by one mission: to open the gates of groundskeeping to all.

NACC’s Vice Chairman Nasa Hussain, one of the driving forces behind this initiative, opened the event by highlighting its core goal: to listen to and amplify the voices of groundskeepers from South Asian and other underrepresented communities. “We want to hear what people need, what they’d like this group to become, and how we can inspire a younger generation to become groundsmen and women,” he explained.
The numbers speak volumes: although 35–40% of recreational cricketers in England and Wales come from South Asian or diverse backgrounds, only around 1–2% of those working in groundskeeping reflect that diversity. “We want to move that needle closer to 30%,” said Nasa, “and this event is part of that journey.”

Groundskeepers are the unsung heroes of the game, and this fact was echoed throughout the day. Kate Aldridge, the ECB’s Director of EDI (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion), summed it up:
“Groundskeepers are the absolute heart of cricket. Growing and diversifying that workforce is essential to the growth of the sport.”
She added that the ECB is proud to be working alongside organisations like the NACC, ACE, and GMA to widen access and opportunity across the game.
“We want everyone to see themselves not just on the pitch, but in all the roles that make cricket happen.”
This was a sentiment echoed by Dr. Iain James, Head of Facilities Services at the ECB, who emphasised the need to address real-world challenges:
“We’re facing shortages in time, skills, and personnel. Encouraging more people from diverse backgrounds including women, retired individuals and volunteers to enter grounds management is essential.”

Among the most inspiring voices on the day was Srikanth Kompella from Spartans Cricket Club, who recounted how he stumbled into the role of groundskeeper out of necessity and grew to love it.
“Hiring a groundsman was expensive, so I taught myself through YouTube. Now four or five years on, I’ve brought our square back to life.”
Being invited to Lord's and even stepping onto the square was, in his words, “a surreal experience.”. “It’s a dream come true. But more than that, it shows that if I can do this as a volunteer, others can too, and even turn it into a career.”
He wasn’t alone. The room held 30–40 engaged individuals, from young volunteers to experienced club founders, all sharing their journeys and learning from one another.

A key host of the event was Karl McDermott, Head Groundsman at Lord's, who welcomed attendees and shared insights into the realities of turf care at the highest level.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for people to see what goes into managing a ground like Lord’s. The industry is crying out for staff across all sports. There are great careers here, and the more diversity we bring in, the stronger the industry becomes.”
Karl proudly pointed out his own team’s progress, including Tush, a young apprentice, and two female groundskeepers. “It’s changing,” he said, “and days like this push it forward.”

While much of the event focused on South Asian inclusion, Eaton Gordon from the ACE Programme reminded us of another urgent issue: the decline of Afro-Caribbean participation in cricket.
“The black community has been disenchanted with cricket. ACE exists to change that — to show that opportunities exist not just on the pitch, but in media, in volunteering and in groundskeeping.”
Eaton passionately called for wider outreach:
“Let’s go to the community and say: You can be a part of cricket and that can mean becoming a groundsman, a media producer, a volunteer. That work is just as important, if not more so.”

From seasoned club leaders like Said Patel (Bolton Deane & Derby CC) — who reflected on how far things have come since the 1980’s, to new volunteers just stepping into the world of turf care, one message echoed throughout the day: representation matters.
And so does opportunity.
With organisations like the NACC, GMA, ECB, and ACE working hand in hand, there is real momentum. The dream is not only to recruit more diverse groundskeepers, but to embed inclusion so deeply that it’s no longer a talking point, it’s simply the norm.
As Kate Aldridge put it:
“We’ve got an ambition for cricket to be the most inclusive team sport. That means everyone must feel they belong in every role.”

One of the key voices at the event was Ian Mather-Brewster from the Grounds Management Association (GMA) who emphasised the importance of embedding diversity into the very fabric of grounds management, not just as an initiative, but as the industry standard.
"Today’s event is hugely important for the GMA as we continue to support diverse communities getting involved in cricket grounds management. Our vision is that in five years, we’re no longer talking about diversity because it’s become fully integrated across the industry. Working with communities like those supported by the NACC is central to how we move forward and grow the game at every level."
– Ian Mather-Brewster, Grounds Management Association (GMA)

The Lord’s seminar was more than a meeting - it was a movement. A reminder that cricket is not just about players. It's about those who prepare the pitches, roll the grass, line the wickets - the guardians of the game’s foundations.
As one attendee said, “If you love cricket, become a groundsman. You'll learn more than just bat and ball - you'll learn how to keep the game alive.”
“At Dennis, we’re proud to support initiatives like the NACC event at Lord’s that champion diversity and open up real opportunities within groundskeeping. The future of our industry depends on inclusion — making sure that people from all backgrounds can see a path into this profession and feel welcome in it. Events like this are essential in breaking down barriers, sharing knowledge, and inspiring the next generation of grounds-people.”
– Robert Jack, Sales Manager, Dennis & SISIS