Depending on start time, your availability and weather conditions, the ‘Finishing Phase’ should take place on the day before or the morning of Match Day. This is to delay the final cut for optimum preparation and presentation.
Your final cut height will affect performance. Leaving a bit more length on the grass leaf (e.g., more than 7-9 mm) can increase pace but also increase seam movement if the grass is not conditioned carefully. A shorter cut height (3-5 mm) will favour the batter but will reduce pace. Experiment with grass cut height and rolling to determine the optimum height for your pitches and your players. Be mindful of the final moisture content of the grass plant and surface before deciding on your final cut height. For example, if you feel on the day your pitch is too moist or too green you could adjust your cut height lower – be prepared to be flexible, do not just stick to a single height.
Note that if you are leaving more grass, it can make your pitches appear greener – players will get used to this, encourage them to judge the pitch on how it plays, not how it looks. Of course, if your pitches are seaming too much, you will need to adjust this. Frequent brushing and rolling can help to reduce the green colour in longer grass leaves.
Your final cut should be made by returning on the same cut line to ensure that there is no striping of the grass.
Think about the nap and how you want to ‘present’ the pitch. Starting your cut at the end furthest from your pavilion/dressing rooms and then returning to that end will make your pitch appear ‘shinier’ and less green to players in the pavilion, particularly sitting in an elevated position. Of course it does not affect play but is a ‘presentation trick’ you can use to increase the wow factor of your pitch. Of course if your pavilion is square-on, it will make no difference!
If you are cutting and marking out the day before, try to cut the morning of the match as well, particularly if growing conditions are good or the pitch has been under cover.
On multi-day games you should cut daily in line with the laws of the game and competition playing conditions (this may require supervision from the umpires). See Law 9 and your Competition Playing Conditions.
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