God’s own country has a prayer on its lips these days. As the cricket season has coincided with the delayed monsoon, it has also meant a soggy, uneven Nehru Stadium outfield and the venue is just one big outpour away from a wash out — the second of the series. The man in charge of the ground — Parthasarathy — has spent on an average 14 hours on the field for the last couple of days and is a bundle of nerves when asked about the ground conditions. “In case the game starts right now, there wouldn’t be any problem. But beyond that there is no guarantee,” he says. The organisers are expressing their helplessness over the situation. The president of the Ernakulam Cricket Association KP Satish says that things haven’t gone their way. “The ground is owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority and we have just got it on rent. Generally, games here are held in April and March when it is terribly hot. That’s the reason we wanted it in September. But look what has happened now,” he says. The locals say that Onam is followed by a dry spell but things are different this time. Also on view are a few freshly-dug drains to keep the ground match-fit, but it might prove to be a futile excercise if the heavens open again. Parthasarathy says the pitch is in prime condition. “But there is a problem with the level of the ground. So it takes time for the water to clear,” says the man from Chennai.Looking at the ground condition, it remains to be seen how the Aussies are going to react. After the difference of opinion among rival captains over the suitability of ground in Bangalore, another off-the-field debate cannot be ruled out. So when Ricky Ponting and MS Dhoni meet at the ground tomorrow on eve of the match, the turf war between the two world champions could well become a war over the playing turf.
