Coal Play: When Chennai curators used innovative method to dry the pich

Cyclone Vardha had cast doubt over the fifth Test between India and England in Chennai but the groundsmen of MA Chidambaram Stadium are trying their best to dry up the pitch with the help of an unusual technique. The weather conditions improved on Wednesday, allowing the groundsmen to dry the wicket by placing burning coal blocks on the pitch surface. 

Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) secretary Kasi Viswanathan said that all necessary measure would be taken to start the game on time, this Friday. “There is a lot of work to be done, but we are taking it up on a war footing. We are confident the match will start on time,” Viswanathan said. 

“The assuring part is that the pitch and the outfield has not been affected by the cyclone. But the sightscreen has been damaged. The bulbs have blown off, air conditioners damaged. There have been hundreds of tree trunks lying in the road leading up to 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," he added.

Ground staff working hard to get ground ready .. nets will be out of action for days !! pic.twitter.com/uG0djJaxKE

— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) December 14, 2016

TNCA officials feel the condition of the outfield with improve gradually as the ground is secured with top class drainage system. Both India and England will not be allowed to train till conditions of the ground improve.