Weather upd from any ICF localite? Rain threat at Vizag and Goa for the ODI with Australia?

[fineleg]

The Age says "DAVID Warner's plans to become the next Adam Gilchrist are not being helped by India's inclement coastal weather, as the three-match one-day series faces a washout and the opening batsman's opportunities slip away. Warner must back up his words with action on Indian pitches if he is to convince selectors he can make a difference in February's World Cup, but yesterday's match was abandoned due to rain before it started and the next two matches are also under threat with showers in Visakhapatnam and Goa." http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/rain-frustrates-next-gilchrist-20101017-16p54.html Any of our ICF-er locals have updates on the weather?

[Sir john]

yeh loo fineleg jee:two_thumbs_up:

Morning all, sun is out here in Vizag.. Looking forward to doing some cricket practice this afternoon. Hope everyone is having a great day

http://twitter.com/MClarke23

[gaurav92]

LOL Clarkey is the Local :P

[Guest Shivani]

VISAKHAPATNAM: With sun shining brightly in this coastal Andhra Pradesh city, the second one-day International between India and Australia promises to entertain the cricket-starved crowd, who will witness a match on Wednesday, after more than three years. After the first one-dayer in Kochi being a wash-out, all the attention of the three-match ODI series has now been shifted to the picturesque Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy ADA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, known for its run feast. "The pitch is known for its batting and it will be no different this time," director of cricket operations MSK Prasad said, hinting at a score of around 300. The former India glovesman further said that 'people are eagerly waiting to see an International match here'. In fact, such has been the response that the Vizag ODI tickets were sold out at the counters in less than an hour after opening. Political crisis in Andhra Pradesh last year around this time had robbed the scheduled India- Sri Lanka ODI on December 18, 2009, as it was shifted to Nagpur. "People are really excited about the match. Fortunately, the weather has cleared. India have won the Test series (2-0). Everything is going in the right direction. We all are looking forward to the match. It's a wonderful batting wicket and we hope to see a total of around 300," Andhra Cricket Association secretary G Gangaraju said. He, however added that the 30,000 capacity stadium is yet not full and a few tickets are still available for the first floodlit match. Both the teams arrived in the city amid tight security vigil this afternoon. Devoid of an outdoor practice because of the rain in Kochi, the Indians have planned a net session this evening. The Aussies, on the other hand, preferred to stay indoors. Surrounded by scenic beauty, the ultramodern stadium has a green and even outfield with no brown traces and is prepared by curator Nagamallayya and co. It was in the very first match in this stadium on April 5, 2005, the five-ODI-old Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced himself at the world stage when he flayed the Pakistani attack with a 123-ball 148 in what would be one of his most memorable knocks. Playing hard and true unlike typical Indian wickets, the Vizag strip saw a total of 654 runs scored in the India- Pakistan one-dayer that the hosts won without much fuss. The ACA- VDCA Stadium has been a lucky venue for India with an all-win record from two matches. In the last match that was played here on February 17 2007, India thrashed Sri Lanka by seven wickets, with Yuvraj Singh shining for the home team with an unbeaten 95 from 83 balls. Not in his dazzling form in the recent times, the stylish Punjab batsman will be keen to show his real class here in the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. The bowling department will also see the absence of speedster Zaheer Khan, spinners Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha as a new look India team will take on Michael Clarke-led Aussies in what is seen as a battle of GenNexts ahead of the ICC World Cup early next year. Any side taking the lead in this nmatch would definitely have an edge when the series concludes in Margao and skipper Dhoni would look forward to continue his lucky charm.

TOI

[fineleg]

Thank you Sir John and Shivi. Good to hear the sun is out.

[Guest Gunner]

I hope the remaining two matches are washed out

[fineleg]

I hope the remaining two matches are washed out

:weights::winky:

[Guest Shivani]

I hope the remaining two matches are washed out

I hope so too :five:

[Shane]

http://www.accuweather.com/en-us/in/andhra-pradesh/visakhapatnam/quick-look.aspx

[Laaloo]

I hope the remaining two matches are washed out

++

[ZodiaC]

:mad: This is our last chance to see Ashwin performing and kicking jaddu's ass. So some still want to get these ODIs washed out? Ok so forecasts are good

[fineleg]

Tim Nielsen Twitter Pic from Goa yesterday "You know what I said about not needing any more rain in Goa..... "

[fineleg]

In a dramatic turn-around, the Nehru stadium in Margao seems all ready and decked up to host the third and final ODI between India and Australia, on Sunday. Curator Narayan Raju, who has the experience of managing the pitch and outfield at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore, swung into action immediately when the rain stopped. In a short span of just four hours, he got the ground ready for the two teams to have their net sessions, with both teams starting their practice in the afternoon. There are still a few wet patches on the outfield and the groundstaff are working hard, using sponge and other techniques, to address the issue and get the outfield ready for play. Curator Raju confirmed that if there is no further rain till Sunday morning, the third match will begin at the scheduled start time (0900 IST). "As you can see the ground is in really good condition now. There are not many wet patches and we are already working on a few that were there so that will be taken care of. If it doesn't rain anymore then the match will definitely start. But if it rains later tonight, then it will make things difficult and we will only manage to play a 25-over game, but even that will be a great difficulty," he stated.

[fineleg]

Facilities like drainage, to get the ground dry incase of rains are absent, while the present equipments like the super sopper and the covers are also quite old. :banghead: Raju revealed that when he first arrived at the stadium, it was in tatters with the outfield devoid of any grass. But the end result is a superb lush green outfield. :two_thumbs_up:

[ViruRulez]

damnnnnnn.. I did not sleep till now thinking that the match is washed away as per reports .. but Clarke just mentions in twitter that they are on way to the ground .. need to sleep urgently now :wall:

[ViruRulez]

:WTF: Just checked Hastings, Clarke and Steve Smith and they are posting on twitter for the last two hours. Do they not sleep at night before the match day. :hmmmm2:

[Ranjha]

:WTF: Just checked Hastings, Clarke and Steve Smith and they are posting on twitter for the last two hours. Do they not sleep at night before the match day. :hmmmm2:

No. Anxiety attack probably lol Just kidding. They prolly hit the bed by 8-9 before match day and up by 4-5 ish.