Oxley Oval curator Craig Grant and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council sporting field supervisor Kerry Lewis are those men.

Grant, whose role has him taking care of the lone turf wicket in the region – Port Macquarie’s picturesque Oxley Oval – said with a two-week turnaround from the rugby season, time and good weather are of the essence.

“We have been praying for rain and hot weather but haven’t got it,” Grant said.

“There is no growth on the deck which is unfortunate.”

Grant, who is employed by the Hastings River District Cricket Association, has been busy weeding, fertilising and repairing the ground after the rugby season.

“It has been really great as for the past 18 months I have worked with Kerry (Lewis) and he has been doing a great job,” Grant said.

“But it really is a hard job as this (Oxley Oval) is the only turf wicket in Port Macquarie which means it will be used pretty much every Saturday and Sunday from now until March.”

As a reult, Grant said, the ground was playing very slow.

“With the level of use this pitch has had over the last three seasons it just hasn’t been able to recuperate,” the curator said.

“I think it is getting to the point now where it is such a joke it isn’t funny.

“If you go to other towns like Tamworth or Lismore they would have a minimum four turf wickets.”

But Grant just tries not to think of the “challenges” and prepare the best deck as best he can.

Lewis, who is responsible for the outfield at sporting grounds in the Port Macquarie-Hastings area, said the most difficult part of the job was repairing the damage done during the rugby season.

“We have been feverishly aerating, fertilising and cutting the outfield for the cricket season,” Lewis said.

“During the rugby season the grass is kept a lot longer and for cricket it is cut shorter.”

The pair looked excited as a storm rolled in late yesterday.

“We need the rain for sure so a good drenching will be well appreciated,” Lewis said.