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| November 22, 2005 | Tuesday | Shawwal 19, 1426 |
Rain threatens third One-day International
CHENNAI (India), Nov 21: Bad weather threatens to wash out the third One-day International between India and South Africa on Tuesday. Incessant rain soaked the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Monday and prevented the teams from training ahead of the crucial day-night game with the five-match series locked 1-1.
More rain was forecast for Tuesday in the southern metropolis which had been flooded by the southwest monsoon over the last month.
“We can start on time on Tuesday afternoon provided there is no more rain, but I am not very hopeful,” said N. Srinivasan, president of the host Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.
“It has not been easy to prepare the wicket because the weather cleared a bit only last week. Now it seems the rain is back again.”
South African coach Mickey Arthur hoped the match would not be affected.
“It will really be sad if the game is rained off,” Arthur said. “This can be the most important match of the series.”
South Africa won the first match in Hyderabad by five wickets, before India drew level with a six-wicket win in Bangalore on Saturday that ended South Africa’s 20-match unbeaten streak.
Indian captain Rahul Dravid was slightly more optimistic. “I was lucky to get a glimpse of the wicket under the covers and it looks good for a great game of cricket,” he said.
“I hope we get the full 50 overs for each side, otherwise we will be busy with paper and calculators trying to work out the run-rate.
“It has already been a very tight series and a wash-out will make the last two games very crucial.”
The fourth one-dayer will be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday and the fifth at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai next Monday.
If Tuesday’s match is not rained off, Sachin Tendulkar of India will become the most capped player in one-day history by surpassing Pakistani Wasim Akram’s world record of 356 appearances.
Coach Greg Chappell praised the premier batsman, who has also scored most one-day runs (13,877) and hundreds (38).
“He is a champion player and a champion person. I’m not surprised he has played so many games,” he told reporters.
“What I like about him is his enthusiasm and love for the game. Probably this is how he has played since his schooldays.”
The Mumbai batsman has broken many records since he broke into the international scene as a 16-year-old in 1989.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith said: “It gets difficult to say something more about a player of Tendulkar’s calibre.
“He is a world class performer.”
Heavy dew on the pitch is expected to play a big role in the last two day-nighters in Kolkata and Mumbai.
Smith was confident his batsmen would fare better against spin the second time around.
“I’m sure the track will turn a bit here, though not as much as in Bangalore,” he said. “Our batters can get on top of the spinners.”
South African paceman Charl Langeveldt, who missed the Bangalore game due to a back strain, will undergo a fitness test on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, deposed India captain Saurav Ganguly is hopeful he can retain his Test spot for next month’s home series against Sri Lanka.
Ganguly, 33, was sacked as captain last month following his prolonged batting slump and a damaging row with Chappell to be replaced by Dravid.
Ganguly told the NDTV channel in Kolkata on Monday. “I have performed consistently over a period of time for India in both forms of the game. I still want to play in both forms of the game.”—Agencies
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