The city was still reeling under the effects of Cyclone Vardah when India and England arrived in Chennai on Tuesday (December 13) to play the fifth and final Test match of the series. The last time both the teams were in the city was for a hastily-arranged Test series just after the 26/11 attacks in 2008, and the security was unprecedented.
But even then, the teams got two good days of practice going into the game that is etched in the memories of the fans for Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar’s super chase of 387 in the fourth innings.
This time around, both India and England will not get a feel of the ground before the ball rolls on Friday . Even though the outfield and the pitch at the main stadium are playable, the adjoining practice area has taken a huge beating. “We have informed both teams that they can’t practice here as a result of the cyclone. We have intimated the same to BCCI as well. The practice pitches at MAC B too aren’t in good shape,” TNCA secretary Kasi Viswanathan told on Tuesday .
There is an excellent indoor facility but it was told that it can’t be used. “There is water inside the indoor facility and practice won’t be possible. But in case the teams insist, we will try to arrange for the indoor nets at the SRMC cricket centre,” Kasi added.
