No changes in venue or schedule of 5th Test despite Chennai being hit by cyclone Vardah, confirms TNCA

New Delhi: The 5th and final Test between India and England is scheduled to proceed as usual despite Chennai being severly hit by cyclone Vardah.

As the news of Tamil Nadu being swept by the cyclone broke, Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium was kept on standby but now the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association has confirmed that some property damage in the stadium has happened but the pitch and outfield at the MA Chidambaram Stadium has not been unduly affected.

"Both teams have been informed about this and they have agreed," Kasi Viswanathan, the secretary of the TNCA, told The Hindu.

“The assuring part is that the pitch and the outfield have not been affected by the cyclone. But sightscreen has been damaged. The bulbs have blown off, air conditioners damaged. There have been hundreds of tree trunks lying in the road leading up to the stadium. Our challenge is to set everything in order in the next two days. I am confident we will be able to set everything right,” Mr. Viswanthan had told PTI on Tuesday.

The veteran administrator also confirmed that three stands of the stadium, which are under dispute with the Chennai Corporation since last four years, would remain closed during the Test match.

Both teams were scheduled to take place in training at the stadium today but that hasn't happened as the pitch has been deemed unfit for immediate use.

The 5th Test is scheduled to start on December 16 at MA Chidambram stadium as India look to secure a 4-0 series triumph over England.