Water-marked: After 4th ODI rained out,Cuttack match too seems headed for a similar end

The outfield was covered in puddles,while the pitch,under covers,hadn’t been tended to for the last five-six days. India had to have their nets at the Odisha Cricket Associations (OCA) Indoor Complex,which is named after Sachin Tendulkar.

The Barabati has a capacity of 45,000,and 32,000 tickets have already been sold. Another 10,000 filled complimentary quotas. “I think the match will be called off. Match referee Roshan Mahanama will inspect the ground at 11am tomorrow before officially taking a decision. In case of an abandonment without a ball being bowled,full refund will be made to those who have bought tickets. We will open three counters at the stadium from November 1 to 15 for that,” OCA secretary Ashirwad Behra said.

And according to Ravindra Jadeja,it’s very unlikely that the match will take place. “Mentally we are prepared (for the match) but I don’t think it is happening.”

Asked why the BCCI didn’t move the game to a different venue despite the bad weather,which has prevailed in Cuttack for close to a week,treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary said: “I’m very busy with our Ranji match (between Mumbai and Haryana in Lahli) that starts on Sunday. So really don’t have any idea about the ODI.” Chaudhary is also the president of the Haryana Cricket Association. BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel couldn’t be contacted. The fourth ODI in Ranchi saw no result due to rain and another washout will mean that India will go into the final two matches,in Nagpur and Bangalore,under real pressure. India haven’t lost an ODI series or tournament this year but are 2-1 down this series.

No pressure

Jadeja differed on the pressure aspect. “We are not under pressure. We have to win the last two matches and are determined to win the home series. We expected a tough challenge. Two best teams in the world are playing and some very good cricket has been played,” he said.

Jadeja has made an impact with his left-arm spin with figures of 1/35 (10),1/31 (10) and 1/56 (10) in Pune,Mohali and Ranchi respectively. New balls from both ends are not troubling him. “It’s not about two new balls. It’s about the conditions. Pitches had very little for the spinners so far. New ball or old doesn’t matter much. It all depends on the pitch,” he said.

Australia didn’t even bother to drop in at the ground. But Shane Watson faced the media at the team hotel and said he’d enjoy the opportunity for some rest.

“I’ve been playing non-stop for the last seven-eight months. It’s worked out that the rain has come along at certain times,even during the one-day series in England,just to freshen me up and others. Tomorrow’s game,doesn’t look good. In the end,to get a five-match series is a bit more enjoyable anyway,” he said.

Windies tour game in Cuttack may be moved to Mumbai

Mumbai: Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) secretary Asirbad Behera has informed the BCCI that Cuttack will not be able to host West Indies’ tour opening game (October 31-November 2). The West Indies were suppose to play the three-day warm-up game against Uttar Pradesh before heading to Kolkata where they play the first Test on November 6. Behera spoke to BCCI president N Srinivasan and told him that conditions were unlikely to improve even if rains stop. “We have informed the BCCI president. Due to the rains,the outfield has turned to slush. It will not be possible to host the Windies. We have suggested that as West Indies will land in Mumbai,it will be feasible to have the warm-up game there,” Behera said. The BCCI will decide on the issue in its working committee on Saturday. Meanwhile,MCA joint-secretary Nitin Dalal said he was unaware of the development. “We are clueless about hosting the warm-up game. If the BCCI wants us to,we certainly will. At the moment we have not heard from the board,” Dalal said.

Devendra Pandey