India’s tour of England is underway, and while the spotlight is on matchdays, much of the groundwork, quite literally, is being laid at Beckenham. The South East London venue, known for its batting-friendly white-ball tracks, is hosting the Indian team for a crucial training camp ahead of the red-ball leg. But are these wickets ideal for preparing for a full-fledged Test series in England? Josh Marden, the head curator at Beckenham County Ground, joined us for a candid chat about the pitch prep, team inputs, and what goes into creating a wicket that serves both seamers and batters.
Q: Josh, thanks for joining. Let’s start with the obvious. Is Beckenham more of a white-ball venue, and how does that impact red-ball prep for teams like India?
Josh: Absolutely. Beckenham is traditionally a very batter-friendly ground, especially for white-ball cricket. That’s its history. So for red-ball training, we’ve had to adjust. Over the years, we’ve been trying to bring the bowler more into the game here, leaving more grass, working on seam movement, creating that balance between bat and ball. When the Indian team came, our goal was simple: to provide the best possible surface that gives a fair contest.
Q: A lot of fans have seen pictures, the wickets look brown, not too grassy. Is that intentional for red-ball prep?
Josh: Yes, and no. The soil here naturally plays batter-friendly, so visually, the wicket may look dry or flat. But we manage grass density, not just what you see, but how thick it is. The pitches currently used by India and Australia have slightly more grass than our usual white-ball surfaces. It’s a subtle balance. Even with a brown surface, there’s enough life in it for seamers, if you hit the right length.
Q: After Day 1 of India’s practice, we hear there was a team meeting and then a few changes made to the wickets. What kind of inputs did you get?
Josh: Yes, the coaching staff, including Gautam Gambhir and others, spoke to us after their internal meeting. Their message was clear: “We want a good pitch.” Not something too flat or too green, but something that will genuinely help with match preparation. They wanted more realistic conditions, not just batting drills. So we adjusted a few things, grass cover, net width, length extensions. The feedback has been great since then.
Q: Speaking of net width, Indian players often request wider wickets than usual. How did you address that?
Josh: Good point. In England, space is always a challenge. We tend to use 6-foot-wide wickets just to maximise usage. But Indian players prefer 8 to 10 feet widths, closer to what they’re used to. We’ve widened the nets and extended the front lines so bowlers can run in more naturally and use their full width. It’s an important adjustment, and we’re happy to accommodate.
Q: Let’s talk weather. With no spring rain and a dry summer so far, does that affect how the pitch behaves?
Josh: Actually, yes. It’s counterintuitive, but dry weather allows us to leave more grass without worrying about too much moisture. Green pitches in this weather don’t always mean seam movement, the hardness of the pitch often offsets that. We’re using flat sheets not just for rain protection but to keep the moisture in and manage the drying process. It’s like sweating the pitch gently, to keep the surface balanced.
Q: One more technical thing – is this a North–South wicket, and does that affect training or match simulation in any way?
Josh: Yes, the main wickets here, including the ones India are using, run North–South. That’s a big plus. It means the sun stays more to the side rather than right in the batters’ or bowlers’ eyes, especially during long sessions. For match simulation and red-ball prep, that’s exactly what teams want. If you’re facing seamers for long spells, consistent light matters. So in that sense, it’s another box ticked for quality preparation.
Q: Any observations or comments from Indian bowlers, perhaps Bumrah, or anyone from the team?
Josh: We haven’t directly interacted with players like Bumrah, but the coaching staff has passed on detailed feedback. From what we’ve heard, the focus is on overs under the belt and meaningful practice, not just hammering runs. They want result-oriented pitches that means surfaces where you get value for good bowling and are punished for errors. And that’s exactly what we’re trying to give them.
Q: Lastly, you’ve had Steven Smith here as well. What did you make of the Aussie smile in the nets last week?
Josh: (laughs) Yeah, Steve was definitely enjoying himself. That smile said it all. The pitch had enough bounce and carry to keep him interested, but was also true enough for stroke-making. That’s what we aim for. Whether it’s India or Australia, the goal is to provide conditions that challenge and prepare, not just flatter the ego.
As the Indian team continue their camp in Beckenham, the wickets may look deceptively brown. But underneath, there’s a conscious effort to create the kind of surface that helps sharpen skills, especially for a Test series in England, where conditions up north like Headingley present an entirely different challenge. And with inputs from the team management and a responsive ground staff, India’s prep is in full swing, right from the roots up.