I need miserable weather, says cricket groundsman

Stuart Kerrison, the longest-serving member of staff at Essex County Cricket Club, has been watering the pitch at night during recent heatwaves. He and his team are working unsociable shifts to maintain the grounds despite a hosepipe ban affecting Essex residents, with businesses exempt if water use is necessary for commercial activities. Kerrison expressed a need for miserable weather to help the grass survive, stating, "I could do with five days of miserable weather, it won't be great for the kids on summer holidays, but for our grass to survive that's what we need." The club is based in Chelmsford. Kerrison also mentioned working early mornings and late nights, such as watering before 05:00 AM, to mitigate the heat. He emphasized the impact on neighbors, noting that excessive watering in extreme heat is undesirable. Over the years, the grounds have faced other challenging summers, with some grass dying off despite previous rainfall. A decent amount of rain would help recover the affected areas.