The 2G Flicx Pitch is helping schools worldwide to develop their cricketing facilities

The Flicx portable pitch concept was originally developed in South Africa in 1997 to help create more opportunities for youngsters to play cricket in the post-apartheid era. In the subsequent years the Flicx Pitch has helped cricket to thrive and grow in places it has never been played before and in countries all around in the world including on top of Mt Everest!!

Our artificial surface solution has solved a number of different facility issues in cricket and has a number of applications in the educational sector including

Fast forward to 2016 and Flicx UK are now manufacturing the pitch in the UK and have developed their 2G version which offers increased grip, improved bounce and a surface which takes seam and spin performance. The new pitch works excellently both indoors and outdoors, for hard and soft ball, for junior and senior cricket and the school market is really making the most of its versatility. Its USP is an unique ability to be rolled up and out to create a pop up wicket is an obvious benefit whilst it’s also excellent value for money compared to other more permanent synthetic mats and can be easily installed by a groundsman, after some initial preparation, and with regular maintenance will ensure very good performance and a consistent bounce…

• Converting a grass field that might host football or rugby in the winter to a cricket field in the summer (preparation of grass underneath is advised) 
• Laid on top of an outfield to increasing capacity (ie-hosting two junior games at once)
• Using a Flicx Pitch as a second wicket for training or friendlies taking pressure off your main square or when wet weather might cause damage.
• Renovating or upgrading a worn astro in the nets
• Rolled out on top of either astroturf pitches or rubbercrumb surfaces … the list goes on!

This multi-use concept, for a school provides great flexability, a point which was echoed by Mark Costin, Head of PE, Sacred Heart School (Battersea) who were looking to guarantee a playing surface to give consistency to their junior cricket practices, pushing the better cricketers who can now play their shots as the bounce is true. With no groundsman or expertise to prepare grass wickets, a drop-on pitch made a lot of sense for this South London School and Mark needed little prompting to praise the upgrade

“It’s absolutely transformed the standard of cricket that we can teach and then play matches against other schools.”

The Master in charge of cricket Stephen Jones of Harrow School points to its consistency. “I am impressed with the 2G Flicx Pitch coaching designs. They facilitate the development of good cricket playing techniques in younger players with the surface offering a true bounce, good spin and seam performance and still giving batsmen the confidence to play shots off their front foot.

“ We have used the pitches to host tournaments where multiple games can take place on one field”

Why choose the Flicx 2G Pitch??

• Minutes to set up
• Reliable pace and bounce
• Convert various surfaces into a cricket pitch
• Use it summer, winter, indoors or outdoors
• Maintenance is easy and minimal

The convenience and versatility across a plethora of scenarios has to be its star quality and Flicx are proud to help cricket to grow in the UK and all around the world including most high recently in a number of International Schools all keen to add cricket to their curriculum in places such as Dubai and Dulwich College, Shanghai where the climate has previously been a barrier …. Again the 2G Flicx Pitch is solving these facility problems, boosting participation and creating more opportunities to play the game.

For more information about our 2G product range, our coaching designs and branding options do visit www.flicx.co.uk where you can also arrange a quote for your school OR call Gary Luke on +44 (0)1295 816765 with any questions on the pitches suitability for your specific needs.

Flicx “pitches up” at the FOBISIA conference in KL

Flicx UK sales manager Gary Luke has just returned from a trip to KL in Malaysia where Flicx UK exhibited for the first time at The Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA) Heads of PE Conference 2015. The event was hosted by Garden International School in KL and by chairman Barnaby Sandow of Jerudong International School in Brunei Darussalam, a school who has recently taken delivery of a 2G Flicx Pitch hence our invite.

For FOBISIA members looking to introduce cricket into their curriculum the 2G Flicx Pitch is a great solution to any facility issues which the school might have for example no fully maintained cricket square, not enough space etc. A 2G Flicx Pitch can be rolled onto existing fields or on an artificial surfaces to add authenticity to pupils cricketing experiences with a good consistent bounce which takes seam and spin. In tropical temperature such as those found in Asia the UV stabilisation added during manufacture means the product has a 10-15 year lifespan thus being a great investment.

Interest was very high at the conference with many schools UK counterparts already benefiting from Flicx products – some orders were placed on the spot with others looking to order ahead of the new season. Flicx hosted a knock about match for delegates and also sponsored the drinks reception at the event which attracted over 60 teachers from British schools in Thailand, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong to name but a few.

One of the Dulwich College pitches at Flicx UK HQ before dispatch to Shanghai

Another existing Flicx Pitch customer who was present, Jamie from Dulwich College International in Shanghai, spoke very highly of the 2G Flicx Pitches as Dulwich enjoyed their first weekend of cricket on a Flicx Pitch just 2 weeks prior to the conference.

FOBISIA members qualify for a discount on all pitches ordered … contact Gary Luke for more information on +44 (0)1295 816765 or email gary@flicx.co.uk

Face Jimmy Anderson on a 2G Flicx Pitch with BatFast’s new cricket simulator

BatFast is the brainchild of high school friends Runish Gudhka and Jignesh Patel. The innovative new company has developed an interactive cricket simulator which allows you to face the pace of Mitchell Johnson to the spin of Shane Warne.  Their mission is to always keep player engagement as the primary focus.

The BatFast products are all the result of observing and analysing the game and how it is played by club players and top professionals, combined with their technical expertise, and the system is perfect for cricket fan zones, sponsors engagement activities and taking cricket to new audiences which is a key focus for the ECB at the moment.

Unlike a bowling machine, BATFAST cricket simulators allow you to experience the real emotion of being an international batsmen! Their precise technology times the ball release exactly in-sync with the bowling actions of the cricketers you are facing on the screen.  Cameras flashing, crowds cheering, instant replays and post-match interviews as well as opposition sledging ensure this is a truly authentic cricketing experience so naturally Flicx UK were delighted to be approached by Gudhka and his team in terms of selecting a portable pitch which could deliver a consistent bounce on a wide variety of under surfaces.

“As a business, we always realised how important it would be for us to go to cricket fans, rather than them having to come to us.  This meant we designed our simulators for 100% portability.  Having done this, we required a supplier who could provide high quality portable pitches that would replicate a realistic experience.  Working with Flicx was a no brainer due to their outstanding reputation, experience in the marketplace, dedication to quality, affordable prices and impeccable customer service. ”

The time lapse video below shows the BatFast system including their 2G Flicx Eagle eyed pitch being set up whilst feedback so far suggests that the pitch is performing exceptionally well.

“In the test runs we have done so far, the Flicx pitch has been easy to set up, use and pack up.  This is vital as it saves us time and expense which we can pass onto the customer.  In terms of consistency, the Flicx pitch has been really well received by our batters, making batting fun and enjoyable.  Going forward we are confident Flicx pitches will allow our experience to be enjoyed, as it was designed to be.”

BatFast will be available to rent from 1 April 2016 (with advanced bookings and early bird details available)  and Flicx UK marketing manager Kate Costin already sees a lot of opportunities for the simulator system “The great thing about BatFast is that it can be hired and transported anywhere making it equally great to use at cricket matches as in city centres thus allowing sponsors and clubs to market the game to a new audience. Being so interactive, BatFast creates memories by allowing participants to play against the best players in the world which is inspiring for kids and adults like … like the Flicx Pitch it is sure to take cricket to places it has never been played before and we are delighted that they will be playing on a 2G Flicx Pitch”

For more about BatFast and details how to hire the system for your next event, please visit the website http://batfast.com/ or contact them on 0800 689 3137 or info@batfast.com.

Flicx Pitch a big hit on Bute

Pupils from all three Bute primary schools took part in a Kwik Cricket match in Rothesay this week to round off six weeks of coaching by the island’s cricket club.

Bute primary pupils in ‘Kwik Cricket’ contest

Richard Beghin, managing director of Banbury-based Flicx UK, was guest of honour as children from Rothesay, St Andrew’s and North Bute primaries took to a shortened version of the 2G Flicx pitch to play a competitive match following six weeks of coaching from Bute County Cricket Club’s Alan Peacock.

Flicx UK presented cricket t-shirts to the players who arrived for the game at The Meadows, and Richard gave out medals to all players after the 50 minute game which was won by Rothesay B, made up of Rothesay and St Andrew’s pupils.

Starting with a score of 200, Rothesay B finished on 221 after six overs, whereas their rivals, Rothesay A – made up of pupils from Rothseay and North Bute primaries – scored 207.

Match action on the 2G Flicx Pitch on Bute

After the schools competition, Bute CC hosted Clydesdale side Cavaliers but at The Meadows in the Sri Lankan themed match the home team took what can only be described as a 102 run hiding. Bute selected the 2G Flicx Pitch for its all weather capabilities and so even a rain shower, doesn’t stop play on this picturesque cricketing island.

 

9 applications of the world’s most versatile cricket pitch…

We believe that we have created the worlds most versatile cricket pitch.

You can roll it up, move it around, use it for hard or soft ball cricket for adults or children playing inside or outside – on top of a surface or rolled in for a more permanent wicket … the choice is yours and you can be assured (with correct preparation to the undersurface) of a consistency bounce that will enable great performances with both bat and ball. All this versatility and flexability comes at only a fraction of the cost of other artificial surfaces… Take a read below at some of the various applications – our top 9 if you like; then if would like a quote for a 2G Flicx Pitch for your club/ school, simply complete our new QUOTE form

1.Indoor Cricket

The 2G Flicx Pitch will solving the age old problem of finding a suitable playing surface for indoor cricket. Flicx UK have conducted various trials on sprung floors with excellent results. For an independent view, read Cricket Central’s review (read more)

2. Convert a grass field into a cricket pitch

A popular application is to enable fields which host football or rugby in the winter, to become cricket wickets in the summer just with the addition of a 2G Flicx Pitch

“It’s absolutely transformed the standard of cricket that we can teach and then play matches against other schools.” – Mark Costin

3. Convert a 3G rubbercrumb /astro or other artificial into a cricket pitch

In emerging cricketing nations where other artificial pitches maybe accessible, the 2G Flicx Pitch can be rolled on top to create a great surface. Read our guest blog by Manik Kuchroo (click here)

 “We now play most of our games on the 2G Flicx pitch and are able to experience cricket as it should be – on a true ground with a true pitch. This experience has helped us improve tremendously over other local teams in the area.” 

4. In the nets

Create a practice area to be proud of or upgrade an existing worn artificial surface for a fraction of the price!

5. As a coaching aid

With bright colours and target tiles, the 2G Flicx Skills or Eagle eyed  pitch (see below) is a great coaching aid for young players to hone their bowling or batting techniques. Develops consistent bowling lengths and allows batsmen to play their shots in confidence.

The Flicx Pitch gets it’s first outing at Dore Primary School this afternoon with lots of excited children #cricket

 

6. To increase your junior capacity

If your club is looking to increase its capacity the Flicx Pitch means two junior games can be played on your oval or a second wicket laid to save your main square. Watch our new video to see how!

7. To play cricket anywhere!!

The Flicx Pitch has hosted many extraordinary games over the years – Down a mine, up the worlds two highest mountains and even in the London eye … the possibilities are endless (Read More) … maybe we will get cricket into space one day!

8. For a beach cricket tournament

Promoting the game to a new audience has led some clubs and associations to host beach cricket tournaments. Your Flicx Pitch is perfect and we are excited to be involved in the national beach cricket championships taking place in Cornwall this September! http://www.beachcricketcornwall.org/

9. The official pitch of Cage Cricket

Cage Cricket is dynamic, visual, high octane entertainment fused with the attitude of youth culture and extreme sports. At the Ageas Bowl, their is a permanent cage with a 2G Flicx Pitch specifically designed to match the scoring system!  http://www.cagecricket.com/

Be the first to WATCH our new 2G Flicx Pitch video telling the story behind the world’s most versatile cricket pitch

As the new cricket season starts this weekend, Flicx UK are delighted to release their new video which provides a quick overview about the 2G Flicx Pitch and explains its various applications and performance benefits.

When founder Richard Beghin realised there weren’t enough facilities for the increasingly-popular sport of cricket in South Africa, he founded Flicx and the first one was rolled out at Telkom Country Club in Pretoria. Fast forward to today and Flicx UK  have now developed their 2G range with improved ball bounce and better seam/spin performance as well as offering much more grip when wet. The animated video goes through other benefits of the 2G product including its great versatility of being able to be used both indoor or out, for adult or junior cricket and for hard or soft ball games.

The new 2G product has been phenomenally popular since its launch last year with clubs seeing its value in increasing junior capacity, or converting other fields or artificial surfaces into a cricketing venue …we even hosted the world’s highest cricket match on Mt Kilimanjaro last September … all part of the unique appeal of the product which can take cricket to places it has never been played before.

Choose your pitches colours and design plus add your logo!

This year especially we are noticing more school and clubs take advantage of branding opportunities and the ability to pick your pitches colour/ design … all this and more can be seen in our video’s concise overview of the Flicx Pitch. To get a quote for your club, simple complete our short on-line form or contact Gary Luke, who will be able to answer any questions which you may have on the pitches performance / suitability for your club, on +44(0)1295 816765

We hope you love the video as much as we do and our big thanks to Phil and all the team at Katapult for their help in bringing the Flicx story to life.

Flicx UK and Roland Plastics seal new sports surface deal

Roland Plastics, an established family run plastics moulding business with vast experience the flooring market , now manufacture and supply Flicx UK with the Tecnotile for exclusive use in the new 2G Flicx range of cricket pitches, now in their second year of production. Roland Plastics specialises in the supply of precision engineered injection mouldings and assemblies in a wide range of thermoplastic materials, produced by state of the art machines.

Roland Plastics logo

 

The new 2G Flicx Pitch surface has already shown an improved performance, increased bounce and ease of handling with great feedback on the new brand from clubs and schools around the world. Manufacturing through Roland Plastics in the UK now gives us a further flexibility and allows us to supply our customers with a far shorter lead times. In addition the cushioned properties of the 2G Flicx Pitch provide players with excellent foot grip which prevents fatigue and injuries which can be caused when playing on hard surfaces.

Product features

• 5 years UV stabilisation at 80 Kilolangleys
• Can support vehicles of up to 2,000kg on a firm surface
• Fire Rating – Tested to B2 4790:1987, BS6307:1982 and BS476 part 13
• Meets Sports Council Draft “Specification for Artificial Sports Surfaces
• Virtually maintenance free
• Designed to withstand global weather extremes

“We are pleased to be associated with an experienced company such as Roland Plastics “ says Richard Beghin, Managing Director at Flicx UK “ UK manufacture brings in many benefits to our brand besides the product being further advanced over the original Flicx Pitch which was developed in South Africa. The partnership created between the two companies is very promising in terms of future developments in the 2G Flicx Pitch range and also gives us the option of developing other sports flooring solutions for the likes of Netball”

How Flicx helped bring cricket to the land of miracles … Israel case study by Herschel Gutman

Israel is known as a land of miracles, and the survival of cricket in the Holy Land must surely rate as one of those miracles. The odds have always been heavily stacked against the game, yet cricket has endured and even flourished despite lacking adequate playing surfaces, equipment and financial backing.

After the British left in 1948, their local successors somehow managed to keep the game going in the fledgling State, though little is documented. On July 23rd, 1974, Israel was accepted as an Associate Member of the International Cricket Conference, now known as the International Cricket Council, with Pakistan the only cricket nation voting against our membership.

Cricket has grown in Israel since the launch of the Junior Development Program. The program received a major boost when two Flicx cricket pitches were delivered to Israel – this ensured that the game had two new playing areas in the middle of the country. This was and still is vital to the future of the game in these parts of the world.

The Flicx products are perfect for the conditions here. After each game, it takes us about 5 minutes to roll the pitch up and move it to our storage room adjacent to the field. We share the field with the Israel Athletic Association and Maccabi Tel Aviv football, so we can not put anything permanent down.

Shesadeh Salamin on the right with his new friend from Israel

About 6 years ago, the Israel Cricket Association launched the cricket4peace project and cross border cricket. These projects help to bring the Palestinian youngsters and Israeli youngsters together once a month to learn about each others culture, language and of course cricket. The projects could not have taken place without the help of the UK based Flicx cricket office. Playing in conditions that often resembles a dry sandy desert – we needed a surface that would have a good bounce and be easy to move around. Flicx assisted us with these projects and played a major part in the Israel Cricket Association being awarded the Global ICC spirit of Cricket award and also the European Cricket Spirit of Cricket Award.

In the summer of last year, we purchased two more Flicx surfaces and have spread them around the country – this is the only way that we can play proper cricket without having to spend thousands of dollars.  The pitches are used in all our major adult leagues and is the main reason why we can host the Maccabiah Games every 4 years – without it, we would have no facilities.

“You can not put a price on what the Flicx pitch has done for cricket in Israel – it is without a doubt the best investment that we have made.”

Thank you Flicx! You have been brilliant for us over the last decade. Here is hoping we are able to get more of your pitches down to these parts of the world this next year!

With very many thanks to Herschel Gutman for writing this blog – Herschel used to work for the ICA and picked up ICC Europe coach of the year in 2013. He has now set up his own private coaching business and he has developed a team of coaches to deliver cricket in schools in Israel and their junior program is thriving.

The night league he started is also doing very well with 17 teams. There are more players in this league than the day league so its the perfect format. You can view the site here: http://www.israelnightcricket.com/ 

Time is running out on our 2G Flicx Pitch early bird offer … get your 10% discount now!

UK cricket clubs only have just over a week left to take advantage of our early bird offer, saving you 10% off the whole 2G Flicx Pitch range. We are just moving into our busiest buying period so if your club is interested, we would recommend getting in touch for a quote as soon as you can. The 10% early bird deal will end on Tuesday 31st March 2015.

Our early bird deal ends on the 31st March 2015

On our core product, the 2G Flicx Match pitch, a 10% saving would relate to a saving of £300 so certainly well worth having! The 10% discount is also available on our skills and eagle eyed pitches as well as small sized products such as our batting ends. All products are now made from our 2G tiles which are much softer so provide more grip and improved bounce plus better seam and spin performance versus its predecessor. More on the benefits of 2G

The biggest benefit according to feedback to date, is the products great versatility which gives great value for money to the investment … it can be used successfully both indoors during the winter, then taken outdoors in the summer season rolled out on grass or 3G / astroturf pitches. Many clubs use the product to reduce pressure on their main square by holding junior practice on their 2G Flicx pitch to increase their capacity and grow the game locally. A full review of possible applications and case studies for each are available to view on our new website see http://www.flicx.co.uk/2g-case-studies/

We are also getting an increasing numbers of orders from schools, academies and universities with coaching designs available to support the development of various bowling and batting techniques in younger players. With the pitches now being UK made, our lead times have been much reduced which means you could be playing on your new pitch in no time at all. Get in touch with Gary Luke on 01295 816765 for more information or email gary@flicx.co.uk for a quote.

Anyone who also came along to the Cricket Club Expo series of shows at Lords, Newcastle and Cardiff – will also benefit from a free set of 2G branded “Pimp my Stumps” as well as the 10% discount, again if ordered before the 31st March.

Top 10 FAQ’s … Everything you need to know about the 2G Flicx Pitch

The 2G Flicx Pitch is a versatile cricket surface solution with various applications possible and many thousands of pitches being used to help grow the game in the UK  and all around the world. To help any prospective buyers to find out more about the product and how it performs, we have put together this FAQ’s blog covering some of the questions we are often asked … If you have any others, just post them in the comments box below and we will come straight back to you or for customer reviews, try our testimonials page.

1) On what surfaces can the 2G surface be used on? We blog on various applications and produce case studies from customers showing which surfaces the 2G Flicx Pitch can be used on … (Read More). More generally speaking the following surfaces are suitable

• Grass… sub surface preparation recommended (see installation guide)
• Astro
• Wooden sprung floor (bounce level dependent on floor construction)
• 3G rubbercrumb pitches (NB- Testing is ongoing on new generation rubbercrumb pitches designed for Rugby which contain a rubberised shock-pad, please contact us if this is your intended use)
• Concrete
• Sand – must be very compact not a beautiful white soft sandy Caribbean beach!!

2) Why is the 2G surface better than the original surface? The new surface itself produces a better ball bounce whilst seam and spin performance is improved. It provides the bowler with more traction and thus the ball does not “skid” through as it did with the original design…

The  new 2G surface  can be rolled out on many difference surfaces and still provides a suitable bounce, whereas the original surface was only really suitable for outdoor purposes. It is therefore far more universal and can be used both indoors and outdoors. In addition it’s easier and softer to roll out and is available in brighter colours and new designs with the option to brand up your pitch with a sponsor logo. The 2G product is now UK made and therefore we have been able to reduce lead times considerably whilst both surfaces were independently tested by the leading UK sports surfaces laboratory ( Labosport UK) where the new 2G surface came out far superior in terms of  its performance with reduced slip and improved ball bounce.

Rolling out a 2G Flicx Match Pitch

3) What is the best way to prepare a sub surface?  We provide details installation instructions with our pitches to ensure the sub surface is prepared in the correct way which maximises the performance of the pitch. We will honestly advise you if the product is suitable for your needs and requirements or not and pride ourselves on great customer service.

Installation Advice http://www.flicx.co.uk/pitches/technical-information/

The pitch its self does not need much maintenance. However depending on the surface it is rolled onto, there will be a certain maintenance required.  This is especially applicable to a grass under surface. The grass itself will need constant mowing during the growing season.  Its important that the “feet” of the under surface of the 2G Flicx Pitch sit firmly on the ground (grass will lift the pitch up).  Thus by mowing or simply using a light roller ( less than a ton) or running up and down the pitch it will resettle the pitch.  At the beginning of the season it is important that weekly maintenance is upheld to ensure a good consistent bounce.

4) Do the corners of the 2G pitch actually get staked down after being rolled? You can certainly stake them down –  try using 4- 5 inch nails.  Its great if you can leave your 2G Flicx Pitch down for the season and let the grass grow through it… and then you simply mow on top. This provides excellent bounce and a turf like pitch without the major maintenance of rolling and preparation.

5) How does the 2G pitch react after being stored for six months at a time? If you roll up the pitch tightly after the season ( straps are provided) and then store it standing up right it normally will be able to roll out quickly and easily with little damage-  The damage only comes when its loosely rolled and allowed to lie horizontally …  The tiles then get bent and will take a while before they flatten out. The plastic has what we call a “memory”, thus if stored for a while in a rolled up position it will take an hour or two to flatten out.  This can be done by simply leaving it flat on the playing surface. In warmer weather it will flatten out quicker.

6) For use over multiple days at a tournament is it better to lay and roll the pitch on day one and leave it in place for the next 4 to 5 days? Oh yes … the longer you can leave it down the more settled it is and thus the bounce remains truer.

7) What is the best type of footwear for this pitch? Rubber cricket shoes or court shoes? and should the batsmen avoid running on the pitch?? Both types of footwear are fine however we would recommend  that you avoid wearing studs as they can damage the pitch as well as possibly having them caught in the pitch and thus possibly twisting an ankle. There is no problem at all if the players run on the pitch however , like any synthetic, it can get a little slippery when wet.

8) How does the hard leather ball hold up over 40 overs?  The new 2G surface is more forgiving but you will see a certain amount of wear. For best results use Kookaburra balls from Australia. Both hard and soft balls can be used on a 2G Flicx Pitch to support junior and senior cricket games.

9) What makes the 2G Flicx Pitch so universal? There are so many applications of the 2G Flicx Pitch and its this versatility which makes it so universal. A club could use it inside for winter nets over the closed season, then move it outside in the summer to increase junior capacity or put it in the nets to replace a worn artificial. We have had the pitch host cricket games in the weirdest and wackiest place but most of all it allows more people to have the opportunity to play cricket and this is why the product was developed in the first instance 17 years ago.

Creating opportunities for more people to play cricket

10) Who generally buys the 2G Flicx surface? The Flicx Pitch continues to be popular with clubs and schools in the UK as well as overseas where stand alone cricket facilities are not so prevalent. Here you can convert a grass field or an artificial football pitch into a cricket venue and various leagues have sprung up on Flicx Pitches where playing cricket was previously not possible (Case Study). We work closely with Cricket Boards and Associations (and the ICC) worldwide to develop more opportunities for people to play cricket.