India vs England: Chennai Test match will go on despite cyclone Vardah, says TNCA

Chennai: The fifth and final Test match between India and England will start as per schedule on 16 December at the Chepauk despite the severe cyclone Vardah that lashed the Tamil Nadu capital last evening. Tamil Nadu Cricket Association secretary Kashi Viswanathan said that although the 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. [caption id=“attachment_3152852” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A locality in Chennai after Vardah made landfall. Firstpost/Jency Samuel[/caption] “The assuring part is that the pitch and the outfield has not been affected by the cyclone. But sightscreen has been damaged. The bulbs have blown off, air conditioners damaged. 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,” Viswanthan told PTI on Tuesday. The veteran administrator also informed that like other years, three blocks will remain closed. “Fifth Test will take place in Chennai. Tamil Nadu Sports Authority is keen on hosting it. No changes as of now,” IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla was quoted as saying by ANI. The storm, which was the most intense to have hit the Tamil Nadu capital in two decades , claimed at least 10 lives, flattened homes to the ground, disabled communication lines and brought the transport system to a halt on Monday, as it crossed Chennai’s coast with heavy rain and storm. However, with the rains having abated since Tuesday morning, people came out on the streets. The Chennai Test, starting Friday, will be the last Test England will play in India. The visitors have already lost the series 0-3, after drawing the first Test in Rajkot and losing the next three – Vizag by 246 runs, Molahi by eight wickets and Mumbai by an innings and 36 runs – and will only be playing for pride.  India, meanwhile, will be hoping to complete a whitewash and end the year on a high. With inputs from PTI