“How’s the wicket, Bert?” During the 4-Day Victoria v South Australia Sheffield Shield match, held 13-17 November 1936 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the play was often interrupted by rain squalls, causing the groundsmen to cover their carefully prepared wicket with tarpaulins to protect it. “How’s the wicket, Bert?” is the question on everyone’s lips – Will it be a batsman’s nightmare? A bowler’s dream? Will the spectators see a full day’s play or will rain spoil it? With a twinkle in his eye, Bert “Maker of Pitches” Luttrell, the MCG curator’s response is: “It’s not the wicket when batsmen get out early, it’s good bowling!” FRC Published: The Age 17 November 1936 Featured in "Newsworthy: Melbourne in photographs 1933-1936" exhibition at East Melbourne Library, October to December 2023. Exhibition caption by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer.  Photographer notations on slide: "Covering wicket during Vict v Sth Aust Cricket at M.C.G. Nov 1936 B117" Published: Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Tuesday 17 November 1936, page 13 Published title: SHEFFIELD SHIELD CRICKET. Published caption: Placing the tarpaulin over the wicket during one of the showers. This was done four times during the day. Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205952141 Description: Nine men wearing black macintoshes and hats drag a tarpaulin over a cricket pitch. There is a bucket containing pegs in the foreground. Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: During the four day Victoria v South Australia Sheffield Shield match, held 13-17 November 1936 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the play was often interrupted by rain squalls, causing the groundsmen to cover their carefully prepared wicket with tarpaulins to protect it. “How’s the wicket, Bert?” is the question on everybody’s lips - will it be a batsman’s nightmare? A bowler’s dream? Will the spectators see a full day’s play or will rain spoil it? With a twinkle in his eye, Bert “Maker of Pitches” Luttrell, the MCG curator’s response is: “It’s not the wicket when batsmen get out early, it’s good bowling!” Albert (Bert) John Wesley Luttrell 1875-1951, was born in Geelong and worked as a painter and decorator. He played cricket for Clarendon Cricket Club while helping to prepare the wicket at Kardinia Park. In 1890, Mr Phillip Russell, a wealthy merino sheep breeder of Osborne House, North Geelong, offered Bert the job of curator and cricket player for his team “The Nondescripts”, a social team who played at his private oval at Osborne House. After five years at Osborne House, Bert took up a position at Geelong Grammar School and then in 1900 he was appointed curator of Warehousemen’s Ground, Albert Park (later called Albert Ground). There he prepared the tennis courts for the 1908 Davis Cup - Australia v USA featuring the eventual winner of the tournament, Wimbledon champion Sir Norman Brookes. Following the retirement of the MCG curator, Bert was offered the position there for the 1919/20 season. Sport was resuming at the MCG after the suspension caused by the Great War and the Spanish Influenza pandemic. Cricket grounds and matches are always at the mercy of the weather. Sudden heavy downpours can make the ground unfit for play. In 1933, Bert invented and patented an absorbent roller for soaked pitches. Similar to a lawn mower in appearance, it was fitted with a rubber sponge which sucked up the water and then squeezed it into a tank. The sponge was said to mop up a gallon (3.78 litres) of water in 32 seconds and remove 100 to 120 gallons (378 - 454 litres) of water from any wet sports ground in an hour. Bert worked as a curator of the MCG for nearly 30 years, invariably creating his famous “shirt front” wicket. He retired in 1947 due to ill health. He was married to Emma and they had six children- Albert, Harry, Nell, Lily, Frank and Jack. Bert died at home in South Yarra in 1951 at 76 years of age. References: SHEFFIELD SHIELD CRICKET. ENGLISH FLYING BOAT. VICTORIA DOCK. (1936, November 17). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 13. Retrieved May 19, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205952141 To Dry Grounds (1933, May 13). Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954), p. 3 (Edition2). Retrieved May 20, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article183038194 No title (1937, February 25). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved May 19, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206185862 GOSSIP of THE GAME (1937, November 12). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 21. Retrieved May 20, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244541623Photographer notations on slide: "Covering wicket during Vict v Sth Aust Cricket at M.C.G. Nov 1936 B117".cricket, 1930-1939