England-India Test match will be the last for Lord's Head Groundsman

England and India are all set to play the second Test of the five-match series at Lord’s. But this game will prove to be the last one for the head groundsman of the venue, Mick Hunt. He joined the ground staff way back in 1969 and after serving for 49 long years, he is retiring. However, he was at the top position for last 33 years and has done a fair enough job producing good pitches during his tenure.

Hunt was a wicket-keeper for Middlesex Colts but he couldn’t make it big in his cricket career. Instead, he decided to join the ground-staff in order to stay involved with the game he loved the most. He took over the Head Groundsman position at Lord’s in 1985 and since then, has played it fair as far as the pitch is concerned.

“I’ve always played it fair. A lot of visiting captains over the years have said, ‘At least we know Lord’s is going to be fair.’ And that’s very heartening. May the best team win,” he was quoted as saying Sportstar.

I don’t enjoy Test matches

Mick Hunt felt that this is the right time to say goodbye. He’s had health concerns before and with the World Cup and Ashes approaching next year, he feels it is better to leave now. “I’m a bit sad to be leaving. but the time is right,” he said with a smile on his face.

However, he was also of the opinion that being a curator was a thankless job and went on to say that he still feels nervous on the morning of the Test match. Team India and England will be facing each other at the venue and no wonder Hunt will be wanting the home side to win in his last Test match as a groundsman.

“For the first few overs you’re thinking, ‘Have I done it right? Have I done it wrong?’ It’s nerve-racking. I don’t enjoy Test matches. Too much stress,” he added.

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