Hampshire’s Karl McDermott has been appointed as the new Head Groundsman at Lord's and will replace Mick Hunt, who is retiring from the role after 49 seasons.
Karl began his career as Assistant Groundsman at Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin, before taking on the Head Groundsman role in 1997, with the venue going on to host an ICC World Cup Fixture in 1999.
He spent seventeen years at Clontarf, working on numerous international and domestic fixtures while winning the European ICC Groundsman of the Year award in 2007, before moving to Worcestershire as Assistant Groundsman.
He then took up the role of Deputy Head Groundsman at the Ageas Bowl in 2009, ahead of the ground’s first Test Match in 2011 between England and Sri Lanka.
Karl became Head Groundsman in 2016 following Nigel Gray's retirement, and recently presided over England's series-sealing Test Match victory against India.
Karl began his career as Assistant Groundsman at Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin, before taking on the Head Groundsman role in 1997, with the venue going on to host an ICC World Cup Fixture in 1999.
He spent seventeen years at Clontarf, working on numerous international and domestic fixtures while winning the European ICC Groundsman of the Year award in 2007, before moving to Worcestershire as Assistant Groundsman.
He then took up the role of Deputy Head Groundsman at the Ageas Bowl in 2009, ahead of the ground’s first Test Match in 2011 between England and Sri Lanka.
Karl became Head Groundsman in 2016 following Nigel Gray's retirement, and recently presided over England's series-sealing Test Match victory against India.