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also provide propulsion which allows the hover cover to be moved by a few people with relatively little effort, hovering smoothly over the field of play without causing any damage. The hovercraft can also carry plastic sheets or tarpaulins which can be quickly rolled out to increase the covered area, with sheets at each end to cover the bowlers' run ups, and at either side to protect other pitches on the square. It can also incorporate gutters and drainage pipes so the collected water may be directed way from the square and towards the drains.
68:, and when required can be moved over the pitch within minutes, and then removed easily when weather conditions improve. A hover cover can be used instead of more traditional wheeled covers, typically with a metal frame covered with fabric or metal, but two or three separate sections are necessary to cover the pitch completely, which take much longer and require more effort to push into place and remove.
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Usually around 100 ft (30 m) long and 15 ft (4.6 m) wide, sufficient to entirely cover the pitch of 66 ft × 10 ft (20.1 m × 3.0 m), the hover cover has a petrol motor at either end driving fans which generate an air cushion to lift the device, and
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The concept was developed by the fabric manufacturer Stuart Canvas, which also makes and sells cricket accessories including
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in 1999. The first hover cover at Lord's was replaced with a new model in 2020. Hover covers are used at most
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from inclement weather, particularly showers of rain. The hover cover can be stored close to the edge of the
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Traditional mobile covers being manually wheeled into place in a rain shower
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near
Southampton, and at some grounds outside the UK, including the
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Wheeled covers and flat plastic covers in place during rain at
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The Hover Cover: Protecting cricket pitches since 1998
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in 2008, with additional sheets rolled up on each side
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160:MCC hovering on a deal for improved coverage
143:, the large mechanical cover at Edgbaston
125:Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium
184:Lord's Cricket Ground Hover Cover 2020
178:New Hover Cover at The Home of Cricket
117:Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium
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186:, Stuart Canvas Group, 22 June 2020
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60:grounds to cover and protect the
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172:The Stuart Canvas Hover Cover
168:, Wisden, September 25, 2019
149:– mechanised rolling sponge
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123:in Bangladesh and the
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180:, Stuart Canvas Group
174:, Stuart Canvas Group
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111:in Cardiff, and the
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200:Cricket equipment
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85:scoreboards
50:hover cover
205:Hovercraft
194:Categories
154:References
141:Brumbrella
54:hovercraft
113:Rose Bowl
97:Edgbaston
135:See also
42:the Oval
58:cricket
89:Lord's
44:, 2008
22:Lord's
121:Dakha
129:Pune
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