CHENNAI: Long before rain marred the India-England ODI on Monday, there was cricket in the city. The Buchi Babu Trophy quarterfinals were slated at Velachery, Porur, Guindy and Siruseri, all smarting under the thunderous assault on Sunday night. Barring one at 2.30 pm, matches started with a longest delay of just half-an-hour.
When monsoon plays spoilsport in most cricket centres in India, getting grounds back in shape after a downpour that yielded 89 mm in four hours was a strong statement of Chennai’s combative abilities. Most of these turfs are maintained by corporates, fitted with modern-enough equipment, dedicated groundsmen and governed by a system.
An Odisha team coached by former India quick Debasis Mohanty played at Guru Nanak College, where play started 30 minutes behind schedule. “It was absolutely dry, which means the drainage is excellent,” he said. Tamil Nadu selector and former captain
S Sharath praised the groundsmen. “Facilities in these grounds are very good and the work culture is different. People are committed to keeping things in shape.”
In collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, corporate entities nurture cricket grounds, including the four which featured in Monday’s matches, in one of India’s most traditionally rich unofficial tournaments. “Most of the grounds have upgraded facilities in the last few years. The TNCA also provides covers. When you conduct a tournament, you need the best of facilities. The groundsmen have good knowledge of these things,” said TNCA secretary Kasi Viswanathan.