Last week, Middlesex Cricket marked a landmark moment in the Club's 162-year history as our first-ever full-time groundsperson has started their position.
Raj Nath has commenced his role as Head Groundsperson at the QEII Sportsground on Swyncombe Avenue – the Club’s new home for women’s and girls’ cricket.
Nath – who has spent many years working for Middlesex in the Community – brings to the role extensive knowledge in the turfcare industry having been responsible for grounds at Kenton Cricket Club and Chiswick Cricket Club previously.
In addition to working on the grounds, Nath – as part of his role with MITC, from which he has been seconded – has overseen the county’s Pitch Support Network, supporting the recreational game across Middlesex.
This appointment is a key part of a multi-year strategy for the site as the Club strengthens its commitment to women’s and girls’ cricket across the county – which in 2025 saw over 200 teams compete in fixtures.
It is believed that the Swyncombe Avenue ground will host girls’ cricket this summer and some senior women’s training sessions before Middlesex Women make it their full-time base from 2027 onwards.
Turf management runs in the Nath family as Raj’s son, Tushal, is on the ground staff at Lord’s.
Commenting on becoming the Club’s Head of Grounds, Nath said:
"It is a massive honour for me to be considered for the role and to be Middlesex’s first ever groundsperson.
"I hope that the QEII Sportsground at Swyncombe Avenue will provide a wonderful facility for us as a country to develop our women's and girls' teams. I am deeply indebted to those who have supported me in my career, especially the late Alan Digby from Kenton CC, who taught me everything about cricket."
Middlesex Cricket's Facilities and Project Lead Josh Knappett commented:
"We’re incredibly proud to secure Raj Nath as Head Groundsperson, becoming the first-ever grounds maintenance employee of Middlesex Cricket as he goes to work at the QEII Sportsground at Swyncombe Avenue in Hounslow.
"This ground means a huge amount to us at Middlesex Cricket as it represents the future home of women’s and girls’ cricket and sits at the heart of an ambitious, multi-phase masterplan which we are in development of with the ECB and officers and councillors in the London Borough of Hounslow. This groundsperson role is the next vital step in providing high-quality playing and training facilities for female Middlesex cricketers.
"Raj brings a wealth of experience and genuine passion for the site, which is exactly what we need to produce outstanding pitches at what will become a venue serving the professional, pathway and community game. We are grateful to MITC for releasing Raj to take on this role and look forward to seeing him develop the site to a first-class standard while building a strong workforce around it. With the rapid growth of the women’s game and a historic under-provision of facilities, this site presents a transformational opportunity to change both access to and the experience of women’s and girls’ cricket across Middlesex"
Middlesex’s Director of Cricket Alan Coleman added:
“This is a significant moment in the Club’s history and plays a key part in our development and ongoing commitment to the future of women’s and girls’ cricket in Middlesex.
“As Middlesex Women continue to strive towards becoming a Tier One side from 2029 and beyond, having a permanent home is essential. The QEII Sportsground project is an extremely promising one and we can’t wait to see the development go from strength-to-strength – providing a state of the art base for generations to come.”
