The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), in partnership with Cranfield University, has launched new guidelines designed to promote more effective use of rollers when preparing cricket pitches.

It follows four years of research, conducted by the university's Centre for Sports Surface Technology, which attempted to develop a scientific understanding of the rolling of cricket pitches. More than 700,000 hours of pitch preparation could now be saved as a result of the new guidelines, which were developed following consultation with more than 100 ground staff across England and Wales with the help of the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG).

Chris Wood, the ECB's pitches consultant, said: "This research will go a long way to dispel the myths and legends and instil sound and economical rolling practices for the production of quality pitches across all levels of cricket." Iain James, head of the Centre for Sports Surface Technology, added: "We calculated that if all clubs in England and Wales were to target their rolling using these guidelines, the reduction in rolling time would save a total of more than 700,000 hours of rolling per year and reduce the carbon footprint of cricket by an equivalent of a small housing estate."