First-Class Fix for Surrey Cricket Club

To prepare effectively for a longer season, cricket teams often begin training earlier in the year. This has traditionally meant travelling abroad to warmer climates, an expensive option that doesn’t always provide the most relevant playing conditions. Practising on a hard South African wicket, for example, is far from ideal for a damp UK season opener. On the other hand, indoor training back home doesn’t offer the optimal surface either.

Problem

Surrey County Cricket Club contacted Polygon, a global leader in Climate Solutions, for support at the Kia Oval. They were creating a new pre-season wicket under a tented area, but condensation was forming and dripping onto the surface, threatening the integrity of the playing area.

Head Groundsman Lee Fortis needed to create and maintain a dry, controlled climate within the marquee to mirror English conditions. The club had installed indirect-fired heaters to help dry the ground, but while these raised the temperature, they also worsened the condensation and significantly increased fuel costs. The need for a smarter, more effective solution was clear.

The Solution

Polygon worked closely with Lee and his team to assess the situation and design a tailored climate control strategy.

In the first phase, we relocated the heaters outside the marquee and introduced a total loss system, feeding warm, dry air into the space without adding any extra moisture. A desiccant dehumidifier was installed outside the marquee, connected by flexible ducting, and remotely monitored to ensure optimal conditions were maintained. The dry air warmed and conditioned the environment without contributing to condensation buildup.

In the second phase, we moved the dehumidifier inside the marquee and shifted to a recirculation-based system. This method allowed the dehumidifier to supply warm, dry air at one end of the marquee while drawing in cool, damp air, removing moisture from the space entirely. The extracted moisture was vented outside via ducting. Heater thermostats were lowered to 100, significantly cutting fuel consumption. With the dew point held below ambient temperature, all condensation within the marquee was successfully eliminated.

The Result

Surrey’s Director of Cricket, Alec Stewart, praised the outcome, saying:

“As we were using a marquee for the first time, I was expecting to give the programme seven or seven and a half out of ten. However, using the expertise of our Head Groundsman Lee Fortis, along with the help of Polygon’s dehumidifier, I was very very pleased to be able to give it nine and a half out of ten!”

Benefits

This collaborative solution created a reliable, repeatable climate model for all ten of Surrey’s practice areas. The project eliminated the need for expensive overseas pre-season training, drastically reduced fuel usage, and enabled the team to prepare on a pitch that mirrors game-day conditions, all year round.