What is bulli soil

Bungonia and Coolac have become available. One additional source of clay soil from the Grampians in Victoria has also recently become available. The author is aware of the geographic locations of where the original Bulli soil and Merri Creek soil were first excavated, but sadly are no longer available from their original sites.

Nonetheless, black-earth, cracking clay soils from other locations in the Merri Creek Valley have been excavated over the years; some unscrupulously sold in small quantities to unaware clients in Victoria. In NSW, black-clay soil has been excavated from further sites around Wollongong. Needless to say, the physical-chemical characteristics and consistency of these additional soils vary to lesser or greater extents from the original source.

To read the full article click here. Nonetheless, black-earth, cracking clay soils from other locations in the Merri Creek Valley have been excavated over the years; some unscrupulously sold in small quantities to unaware clients in Victoria. In NSW, black-clay soil has been excavated from further sites around Wollongong. Needless to say, the physical-chemical characteristics and consistency of these additional soils vary to lesser or greater extents from the original source.

Basic details of the chemistry, particle size distribution and organic matter content of a range of commercially available cricket wicket soils has been published. Further, the historical development of cricket wicket soil assessment, albeit based on some false premises and some non-validated laboratory methodologies e. In recent years, alternative sources of black-earth, high-content clay soils from privately-owned land in southern NSW is being successfully marketed Table 1.

The colour of cricket wicket clay soil ranges from dark grey to black, depending on source. Soil colour is largely governed by clay and organic matter contents. Information of the basic chemistry i. Similarities, as well as differences, based on accredited-laboratory test results of a current and unfamiliar source of cricket wicket soil can be compared. However, acceptable performance of a wicket soil for a traditional Test match cannot be predictably assessed from measuring soil texture and organic content alone.

On relatively new cricket tables the source, supplier and basic physical-chemical properties of the wicket soil is probably known. In stark contrast, the source, depth and basic properties of clay soils beneath many older cricket tables, particularly in country regional areas, may be unclear even unknown.

For many of these older turfgrass cricket wicket tables, the soil currently used for topdressing or re-levelling purposes is unlikely to be from the same source, as was the original construction soil. Do you know of the nature and source and have a laboratory analysis of the original construction soil beneath your wicket? A common question asked among cricket curators and others concerns the textural thus physical compatibility of different sources of wicket soils see photo below.

This question arises for topdressing purposes or when re-levelling. Does this question infer that different sources of high-clay content soils are by their nature physically incompatible causing delamination at their interface and, if so, how can the degree of compatibility or alternatively incompatibility be objectively measured?

Physical engineering measurements of plasticity range of water content over which clay soils remain in a plastic state and coherence ability to hold together when dry of clay soils is widely practiced in civil engineering.

Examples of different wicket clay soil shrinkages and cracking. Here in Australia, any investigations conducted into physical compatibility between different cricket wicket clay soils has not been published. The author has observed various degrees of shrinkage and cracking of unreplicated cricket soil mixtures following their blending in small quantities when dry and crushed then remoulded in a moist state.

There may be a deluge, but the water will not penetrate the wicket to any great depth. In fact, if you put a piece of Bulli Soil in a bucket of water, and allow it to remain there a week. It will be found at the end of that time that it will be practically as hard as when it was put in. It will also be found that little water has permeated it. A properly-prepared Bulli Soil wicket is extraordinarily hard, although it is not as of concrete a nature as the Merri soil wickets in Melbourne.

Bulli is not a good grass-growing soil, and consequently when the wickets are top-dressed early in September the soil has to be well screened beforehand and put on very lightly. The pocket from which the first supply of Bulli Soil came from gradually petered. The soil is found in pockets. An instance is known of 15 inches of good Bulli Soil being obtained on one side of a drain, while on the other there was no indication of such a deposit.

In the Association sent its secretary, Mr. Iredale, to the South Coast to see if he could discover another pocket of the real stuff, but without avail.

But last season Mr. Peir informed the Cricket Association that Ned Meads was living at Austinmere, practically on the same ground as where the original Bulli Soil came from, and that he could guarantee to supply any amount of the genuine article. Peir to supply all the grounds for this season. Thus the ground players are new every Saturday playing on wickets made from soil similar to that supplied many years ago. It is a pity the Sydney Cricket Ground authorities did not also obtain supplies of this soil, so that there would have been uniformity throughout the metropolis.

Next season the wickets in Sydney should be much better, as this season much of the soil previously laid on the wickets must necessarily mix with the new stuff.

Sydney Smith, Jun. I believe this was and these balls were made at time Bulli soil was being exported to London to prepare the wicket at Lords for either the Victory test or the test. The reason for dad being presented was in recognition of the amount of free publicity he had been abl e to arrange for the shipment, not only in the Bulli Times but also in Sydney papers. Dad kept copies of these papers but unfortunately my mother burnt them after he passed away.

I was lucky enough to rescue the ball which I still have. As I am getting on in years I decided to find a home for it and as none of my children are interested I have arranged to pass it on to a great nephew who is a first grade cricketer.

I want to give him as much background information as possible so that when he needs to find a home for it he will have the history. I understand that the MCG have one of these balls. I offered it to Lords but they were not interested. Perhaps you or one of your readers may be able to provide some additional information.