Some State Cricket Associations do splendid work on their grounds and maintain them to a high standard. Others have neglected their ground and equipment and maintenance is run down. The ground maintenance is poorest where Associations do not own or control their own grounds. Even at some otherwise well-managed grounds, the revenue earning asset, the stadium ground itself, does not receive its fair share of the income it generates. As a result equipment and resources have become run down.
The honorary curator system is working well in some Associations, and poorly in others.
Recommendations
Where the stadium is owned by Local Government, I recommend that cricket negotiate a long term year round lease of the ground. The Cricket Association should maintain the ground year-round, even if the Government wants the ground to be used by other users for a specified number of days per year.
Where State Cricket Association identify that they have allowed the stadium resources and maintenance to run down, they should consider alternative management structures so standards are maintained. They may wish to consider managing the ground autonomously from the Association, so it can manage its own income and expenditure.
I recommend that curators are not elected every year. It would be better to interview potential curators and appoint one of them for a fixed term of say three years. Alternatively, consider employing a professional curator. Associations need to consider how they will retain and experienced curator. They also need to consider issues of succession and on-going training of curators.
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