Raining Supreme in Chennai

I am very concerned about the third One-dayer in Chennai. I am concerned on one front, one cold front!

We all flew from Bangalore and arrived late on Sunday afternoon to extreme heat and Durban-type humidity. That did not last long!

Just before sundown, threatening skies developed that quickly sent us off the streets to a place of refuge that provided welcome, ice-cold Castle Lager. A couple of beverages later and then our comfortable rooms beckoned.

My room lead on to Anna Salai Rd which is a cacophony of noise and busier than a state school hat rack on opening day! Not surprisingly, I awoke prior to my alarm shocking my out of my slumber. As I parted my curtains, I was confronted by a startling scene. The traffic was grid locked and torrential rain was causing chaos.

Upon closer inspection, I realised that from my vantage point some three floors up, that people were going about their normal business in knee-deep water! This part of Chennai was flooded following a long knight of solid rain! Seeing that the venue for the third ODI is only five kilometres away, it does not augur well.

I noticed that the Hindu Express boldly states that heavy rainfall warnings have been issued for the next 48 hours. Chennai was totally flooded with waist deep water only three weeks ago.

Off to breakfast I went and quizzed the local staff regarding the chances of play tomorrow. The grim faces reflected the improbability of ant cricket and the spoiling of an annual event that the locals look forward to for months.

I am now back in my room some four hours after surfacing and another glance street side confuses me totally. The streets are now bone dry and the sun is shining. We might get lucky after all.

The traffic is still grid locked!