Surrey County Cricket Club’s Head Groundsman, Bill Gordon has won his fifth straight “Groundsman of the Year” award after taking this year’s title.

The Brit Oval pitch has won the prestigious award seven out of the last eight seasons and has now made it five straight titles under Gordon’s tutelage since he took over at the helm in 2003.

Click here for a behind the scenes tour of the Brit Oval.

Many players including Shane Warne and Mark Ramprakash have praised the Brit Oval pitches that Gordon has been producing over the years. His influence, since joining the Surrey groundstaff in 1964, is one of the major reasons why the ground is renowned for producing quality cricket wickets over such a long period of time.

In praise of the Brit Oval wicket, Ramprakash said, “I have never played on a bad Brit Oval wicket. Every time I go out to bat I always know that I will get a reliable strip with nice pace and consistent bounce. That’s all you can ask for as a batsman.”

The award is based on umpire reports produced for every match, domestic and international, throughout the season, which include grading on the covering of grass, dryness, seam movement, pace, consistency of bounce and turn.

Gordon, on receiving the award for the fifth time, said, “It’s pleasing that quality cricket is played on such good true pitches here at the Brit Oval. Congratulations must go to my team who have put in extremely long hours over a very long summer and it’s great that we have all been recognised in this way.”

Paul Sheldon, Surrey Chief Executive, added;

“It is a fitting reward for Bill and his team. They work tirelessly over the summer to maintain our reputation as one of the world’s best pitches and this acknowledgement is testament to that. Spectators who come to the Brit Oval are always treated to high-class cricket and part of this can be attributed to a playing surface that is always of the highest standard.”

Click here for a behind the scenes tour of the Brit Oval.

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