Chennai set to host fifth Test between India and England as planned

As the flight began its descent into the Chennai airport, one could gauge the mayhem that cyclone Vardah has caused.Acres of land have been waterlogged, and in many places, houses have been half-submerged. As you drive into the city, pavements are stacked with uprooted trees and several buildings bear visible brunt of the havoc – roof sheets have been displaced and hoardings and boards have come off. 

Mercifully, it’s not raining and the life seems as normal as it can be. Despite the challenges posed by the weather, the fifth Test between India and England, scheduled to start on Friday, will go ahead as planned.

Tamil Nadu Cricket Association secretary Kashi Viswanathan said that although centre strip



and the outfield have not been affected by the cyclone, the sight screen has been badly damaged, the bulbs of the floodlights blown off, a number of air-conditioners also got damaged and those need to be set in order in the next two days.

“There have been hundreds of tree trunks lying in the road leading upto the stadium. Our challenge is to set everything in order in the next two days. I am confident we will be able to set everything right,” Viswanathan said.

The forecast too has been encouraging. It’s expected to rain on Thursday, the eve of the match, and on Monday, the fourth and penultimate day, promising plenty of cricket action. Meanwhile, both the teams flew in the city on Tuesday.