Wet cricket grounds and sawdust are a cricket institution - but a prominent New Zealand groundsman would argue it is an institution based on fallacy.

With so much wet weather having followed the New Zealand cricket team around this summer the sight of sawdust being placed around grounds, especially in bowlers' footmarks has become common sight.

But Karl Johnson, the turf manager at New Zealand Cricket's High Performance Centre at Lincoln University, believes the use of sawdust has become something like a security blanket for players.

"Sawdust is a mulch, all it does is keep moisture in the ground. If you put it over a wet patch it will take longer to dry," he said.

Johnson's solution, and one he uses all the time is kitty litter.

"It draws the moisture out and has been quite successful, especially on the run-ups.

"It is also biodegradable.

"A lot of the belief in sawdust is probably more mental, the bowlers feel safer and the fact someone has gone out there and done something seems to help them," he said.

Johnson said he found the England A team that toured New Zealand two summers ago had been very particular about their run-ups, even in the nets.

"They all asked, 'What's this stuff?' and gave it a go.

"The thing about it is I have never had any complaints," he said.

© CricInfo