TAKE IT EASY, CAPTAIN: Makhaya Ntini and Graeme Smith at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium after the third one-dayer was abandoned. — Photo: S. Subramanium

Chennai: The brightly hued covers that guarded the square appeared an unwanted appendage on a beautiful face.

The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium was a theatre with an audience but without the play. The sky was dark; the ground was suffused with an eerie stillness.

It was an afternoon when the thud of the raindrops sinking into the turf made louder noise than the brave bunch of spectators. Inclement weather continued to haunt cricket in Chennai.

Frustrating day

The third Pepsi Cup ODI between India and South Africa had to be abandoned without a ball being bowled here on Tuesday. Cricketers peered through the gloom before retreating to the pavilion.

Their hyperactive frames were now forced into a period of inactivity. Some of them ventured out for some lighter moments. It was a day that frustrated, that disappointed.

The teams travel to Kolkata for the fourth ODI — a day/night clash — at the Eden Gardens on Friday. And the spectators in Chennai were left wondering about what might have been.

The continual downpour from Monday meant the outfield was left with puddles of water. The ground staff worked tirelessly but the lack of sunlight made their job an almost impossible one.

Umpires Daryl Harper and K. Hariharan had scheduled an inspection at 4.30 p.m. However, a sharp shower at around 3 p.m. ended all hopes of the contest getting underway. The match was called off at 3.15 p.m.

Ahead of the game, India captain Rahul Dravid spoke of the discerning Chennai spectators. This is a crowd that appreciates good cricket. The spectators here reach out beyond the boundary.

It was here that Wasim Akram's men received a standing ovation in 1999 after Pakistan edged out India in a humdinger of a Test match. So well documented was the incident in Pakistan, that it set the tone for India's historic tour of its neighbouring country last year.

The spirit of Chennai

Everywhere in Pakistan, the spirit of Chennai was remembered and cited as an example.

The Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, the genial Shaharyar Khan, said the astonishing response of the Chennai crowd marked one of the decisive moments in the revival of the cricketing ties between the two nations.

The aficionados of the city deserve a better deal than a washed out game. And the BCCI is answerable to the cricket loving public here. While the Board has a rotation policy in place, critical factors, such as the weather at a venue during the staging of the match, have to be taken into account.

It rains in Chennai during this part of the year, and it often pours hard. Staging cricket here during the month of November is a bit of a lottery. The watery end to the match could have been avoided had the Board displayed foresight.

And the Board could have looked at the immediate past for guidance. Less than 30 overs were bowled in the India— New Zealand ODI here in October 2003 before rain ended the match. And last year, the final day of an engrossing Test between India and Australia never happened due to rain. That Test was poised tantalisingly and could have altered the flow of the series. Had India triumphed, Australia might have stumbled in its quest to conquer the final frontier.

Impressive stadium

The South Africans were keen to show their skills in Chennai. Skipper Graeme Smith spoke about the impressive stadium and the cricketing ambience in the city. Cricketers look forward to playing in the great arenas of the world. Steeped in history, the Chidambaram Stadium is certainly one of them.

The India-Sri Lanka Test begins here on December 2 and it can only be hoped that the rain abates by then. It is learnt that the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association would have been happier had it been allotted an India-England Test during the three-match series next year.

Traditionally, the Test matches were held in Chennai during the second and third weeks of January that coincided with the `Pongal' festival. Things have changed now, but they have not done so for the better.

It was a momentous day for Dravid, named the India captain for the Test series against Sri Lanka. The quiet, self-effacing man deserved his moment in the sun, even if it arrived on a cloudy day.

Coach Greg Chappell personified confidence as he walked into the stadium gym where the Indians had a work-out after the match. Even on a rainy day he had his finger firmly on the pulse of the team.

It's advantage India at this point, since the match at the Eden Gardens is likely to be played on a slow turner where the Indian spinners could once again strangulate the South African batsmen.

The side could have the momentum in its favour as it travels to Mumbai for the last match. But then, it is hazardous to forecast the future.

On the issue of refund to those who had bought tickets for the match, it is learnt that the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association will arrive at a decision after a meeting of its executive committee.

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