When your name becomes part of a Trent Bridge proverb, the only conclusion that can fairly be drawn is either that you have contributed a significant length of time to the historic venue, or that your work there is of incomparable quality.
As far as Steve Birks is concerned, though, the answer surely has to be both.
The man who joined Nottinghamshire from a certain other county located down the A52 - and who famously maintained an allegiance to the same city’s football club - spent 28 years in NG2.
He did not show anything other than full loyalty to Trent Bridge, though, and while on the groundstaff, he produced pitches that won awards and broke records - and even, on one occasion, one that did both.
Out of his tenure and commitment to the job, and the sheer standard of what he produced, was born the phrase ‘a Steve Birks belter.’
On no other occasions was that more prevalent than when England Men, within the space of three years, twice broke the world-record ODI score at Trent Bridge.
Pakistan were first to be put to the sword; a little over a year into England’s ODI rejuvenation, the Three Lions belted 444-3, as hometown hero Alex Hales hammered 171 off 122 balls in a 169-run win.
That was the surface in question that contributed to Birks being recognised with that year’s one-day ECB Grounds Manager of the Year award.
Not content with that, though, Eoin Morgan’s future World Cup winners returned to West Bridgford a little under two years later to thrash 481-6 against oldest enemy Australia.
Hales again slammed a century, this time amassing 147 off 92, and was joined in reaching three figures by Jonny Bairstow, who made 139 in the same number of deliveries.
Such was the quality of the batting wickets prepared by Birks on those occasions that only two other venues accompany Trent Bridge as having played host to any of the top six all-time ODI totals.
The postage stamp of Amstelveen in the Netherlands, and Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, where the altitude-influenced thinner air sees balls travel farther, are the only venues to match.
It sums up Birks’ commitment to producing stages for compelling cricket, with England Men, Trent Rockets Men, The Blaze, and Nottinghamshire all winning trophies during his stint.
What many will also remember, though, is that out of another Birks belter was born Bazball, the no-holds-barred, fearless approach to Test cricket instilled in England by head coach Brendon McCullum.
Against McCullum’s native New Zealand, another surface smashed records as a capacity day five crowd witnessed England steal a five-wicket win after a cumulative 1,675 runs had been amassed.
Whether McCullum, and his swashbuckling style, will still lead England after the upcoming Ashes series very much remains to be seen, and will naturally depend on the result of the series in Australia.
However, in the event that the Three Lions do pull off the heist that they desire down under, there is every chance that the affable New Zealander could still return to the place where his style took flight.
Birks may have handed over the reins for producing the surface upon which England will next play at Trent Bridge - pleasingly, it is a rematch with the Kiwis that lies in wait in June 2026 - but his legacy will live on.
Much like McCullum, whose players utilised Birks’ pitches to their maximum extent, the character and achievements of the man who gave almost three decades’ service to Trent Bridge will ensure he is seen in a positive light for many years to come.
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