Mohali.. The Worst test centre in India

[GoldenSun]

I remember when the Mumbai crowd ONLY showed up in numbers in that 2011 test against the Windies WHEN Sachin was nearing his century. Once he got out, a huge throng of bandwagon fans headed for the exits. It really irritates me somewhat.

[saneindian]

so why cant people buy a ticket before hand? just curious not accusing. cause i have watched cricket at wankhede and was able to purchase a ticket on the day via a bank located less than 5 min away

Because they are not easily available. Only sold through limited no of Bank of Maharshtra branches, that too for all 5 days. Single day tickets are not sold prior to the match, you have to buy them on the day itself that too from a small Bank of Ma'tra branch which is 2 KM away from the stadium. Imagine this, you park your car around a KM away from the stadium, then walk a KM to buy tickets at Stadium, then you are asked to walk 2 KMs each way to go to the bank and buy tickets, you do that and at the end you find tickets have been sold out (when in reality the stadium is empty). By chance if you do get tickets, you walk into the stands, and find seats soiled with pigeon droppings, loos stinking, no proper arrangements for food/drinks. They do everything to dissuade fans from turning up at test venues.

[Crookbond]

I remember when the Mumbai crowd ONLY showed up in numbers in that 2010 test against the Windies WHEN Sachin was nearing his century. Once he got out' date= a huge throng of bandwagon fans headed for the exits. It really irritates me somewhat.

2011?

[GoldenSun]

2011?

edited now :). But anyway my point stands.

[adi B]

delhi might have decent turnout since college students are free (even though its fest time) but school students have exams so even parents wont come..oldies come rarely

[G_B_]

Because they are not easily available. Only sold through limited no of Bank of Maharshtra branches, that too for all 5 days. Single day tickets are not sold prior to the match, you have to buy them on the day itself that too from a small Bank of Ma'tra branch which is 2 KM away from the stadium. Imagine this, you park your car around a KM away from the stadium, then walk a KM to buy tickets at Stadium, then you are asked to walk 2 KMs each way to go to the bank and buy tickets, you do that and at the end you find tickets have been sold out (when in reality the stadium is empty). By chance if you do get tickets, you walk into the stands, and find seats soiled with pigeon droppings, loos stinking, no proper arrangements for food/drinks. They do everything to dissuade fans from turning up at test venues.

that is bad. So another question, why are ODIs and T20s in Delhi packed (forget about IPL). I have been to wankhede a couple of times for the test matches. I go from Mulund (a station in Mumbai) to Dadar via train. Change at Dadar and get the train to chruchgate station. Walk down and purchase the tickets from a nearby bank and enter the stadium. For me its a very smooth process. Maybe the Delhi cricket association are to blame than the BCCI? Maybe rather than Bank of Maharashtra, surely they can locate a bank close to the stadium? (like say a 10min walk) or even better open counters at the stadium where tickets can be purchased on the spot on the day for a test match? Also in the future maybe in Delhi we need to play tests at the Nehru stadium. That appears to be good transport links in terms of a metro.

[cricketpitch]

but then you'd be left 6-7 test venues only

Most test nations have only that many. Even though England has lots of grounds, they stick to their major test venues only for test matches.

[Vilander]

I will take less crowd over hooligans who come to dance on to the tunes of DJ. Test match has a different charm' date=' it is vastly enjoyed on television by the most, also dont forget this is a rain effected match, crowds are uncertain about them, [b']not many stadiums in india can put up facilities which mohali can. Just enjoy the game without thinking much about the crowds.

i am not sure about the legendary facilities that Mohali has, is there someone who has gone to a centers like Mumai,chennai,bangalore,delhi etc who can compare it with Mohali ? For me all this just sounds like a legend, Mohali has lush green outfield. But is it that it has vastly better facilities for players and the crowd?

[cricketpitch]

i am not sure about the legendary facilities that Mohali has, is there someone who has gone to a centers like Mumai,chennai,bangalore,delhi etc who can compare it with Mohali ? For me all this just sounds like a legend, Mohali has lush green outfield. But is it that it has vastly better facilities for players and the crowd?

If Mohali has great facilities for players, then probably the preparation ahead of a series can be held there? Even the visiting teams can be probably be stationed in Mohali to prepare for the series? Why to hold test matches knowing that there will be no one watching the game?

[Ultimate_Game]

Anyone blaming the crowd for not showing up in India should attend a Test match in India and experience first hand what the crowd has to go through. You can't take any food, water, binoculars, cell phone etc. inside the stadium. Then you have to sit on those uncomfortable chairs which offer no protetion from sun or rain. Washrooms/rest-rooms are unsanitary to say the least and how anyone can use them is beyond me. On top of that there's shortage of water and food, which is way too expensive anyways, and in case they don't run out of ffod/water, you will have to fight a mob to get to it. I am sorry but I would think folks at Mohali are smarter for not showing up as in this day and age this sort of experience is unacceptable and to think this is how world's richest cricket board treats its key stakeholders - the paying public.

[cricketpitch]

Anyone blaming the crowd for not showing up in India should attend a Test match in India and experience first hand what the crowd has to go through. You can't take any food, water, binoculars, cell phone etc. inside the stadium. Then you have to sit on those uncomfortable chairs which offer no protetion from sun or rain. Washrooms/rest-rooms are unsanitary to say the least and how anyone can use them is beyond me. On top of that there's shortage of water and food, which is way too expensive anyways, and in case they don't run out of ffod/water, you will have to fight a mob to get to it. I am sorry but I would think folks at Mohali are smarter for not showing up as in this day and age this sort of experience is unacceptable and to think this is how world's richest cricket board treats its key stakeholders - the paying public.

I have watched test matches in Chennai. Yes it is not perfect, but the atmosphere is so electrifying with a decent crowd that you forget everything. I watched the India Vs Pakistan 1999 test match in Chennai (4th day), still the most memorable day of test cricket of my life. No matter how much the technology makes viewer experience great on TV, that will still remain the best I have enjoyed watching a game of cricket.

[Number]

Dumb northies don't even understand test cricket.

[Ultimate_Game]

I have watched test matches in Chennai. Yes it is not perfect' date=' but the atmosphere is so electrifying with a decent crowd that you forget everything. I watched the India Vs Pakistan 1999 test match in Chennai (4th day), still the most memorable day of test cricket of my life. No matter how much the technology makes viewer experience great on TV, that will still remain the best I have enjoyed watching a game of cricket.[/quote'] Chennai 99, Kolkatta 2001 are exceptions but nobody will endure such conditions hoping to be part of a classic, which most probably won't happen. I watched a few matches live (late 90s) and what I've heard from folks I know is that conditions haven't changed that much. I am sorry, but these days you can't expect folks to go through the same shyte. Hell, it's lunacy to expect folks not to have access to their cell phones in this day and age. I am sure plenty of folks don't turn out for that reason itself. I know I won't.

[Ultimate_Game]

Dumb northies don't even understand test cricket.

I would call them smarter to thumb a nose at BCCI and demanding improvement in facilities and in stadia experience rather than showing up to get the same shyte.

[adi B]

Dumb northies don't even understand test cricket.

at least northies aint destroying indian cricket

[cricketpitch]

Chennai 99' date=' Kolkatta 2001 are exceptions but nobody will endure such conditions hoping to be part of a classic, which most probably won't happen. I watched a few matches live (late 90s) and what I've heard from folks I know is that conditions haven't changed that much. I am sorry, but these days you can't expect folks to go through the same shyte. Hell, it's lunacy to expect folks not to have access to their cell phones in this day and age. I am sure plenty of folks don't turn out for that reason itself. I know I won't.[/quote'] Not only classics, I even watched India Vs WI 2002 test in Chennai and enjoyed that too. That was by no means a classic but still the atmosphere in that game was brilliant and I enjoyed all 4 days of cricket. so basically you are saying that people in cities where you get crowds are ready to take (in your words) "Shyte" but the other venues people are too godly to put in the same efforts? I heard someone earlier claiming that Mohali has the best facilities, then why aren't people thronging there if facilities and cleanliness is the main concern?

[cricketpitch]

at least northies aint destroying indian cricket

Are you sure? Please check the history of Indian cricket in the past. Last 5 years aren't the entire Indian cricket history. What stopped India from becoming world beaters in the past? As you guys seem to think that Srini and Srikkanth are the only people to destroy cricket. Why weren't the past Indian think tank able to create a great Indian team since the committees of the past have been so "UNBIASED" and "GREAT"?

[Ultimate_Game]

Not only classics, I even watched India Vs WI 2002 test in Chennai and enjoyed that too. That was by no means a classic but still the atmosphere in that game was brilliant and I enjoyed all 4 days of cricket. so basically you are saying that people in cities where you get crowds are ready to take (in your words) "Shyte" but the other venues people are too godly to put in the same efforts? I heard someone earlier claiming that Mohali has the best facilities, then why aren't people thronging there if facilities and cleanliness is the main concern?

I can't speak for other venues but facilities and in stadia experience in Chandigah, Mohali and Delhi was as shytty as it comes. In fact if you experienced anything similar to what I've experienced as mentioned in one of my posts (no sanitary washrooms, shortage of food/water, uncomfortable seating, no mobiles/binoculars etc.) then yes, you have endured pretty cr@ppy conditions. My perspective on in stadia experience change when I watched baseball and football games in North America and boy was the experience different!

[adi B]

Are you sure? Please check the history of Indian cricket in the past. Last 5 years aren't the entire Indian cricket history. What stopped India from becoming world beaters in the past? As you guys seem to think that Srini and Srikkanth are the only people to destroy cricket. Why weren't the past Indian think tank able to create a great Indian team since the committees of the past have been so "UNBIASED" and "GREAT"?

i should have put a :giggle: in my post..:giggle:

[G_B_]

Anyone blaming the crowd for not showing up in India should attend a Test match in India and experience first hand what the crowd has to go through. You can't take any food, water, binoculars, cell phone etc. inside the stadium. Then you have to sit on those uncomfortable chairs which offer no protetion from sun or rain. Washrooms/rest-rooms are unsanitary to say the least and how anyone can use them is beyond me. On top of that there's shortage of water and food, which is way too expensive anyways, and in case they don't run out of ffod/water, you will have to fight a mob to get to it. I am sorry but I would think folks at Mohali are smarter for not showing up as in this day and age this sort of experience is unacceptable and to think this is how world's richest cricket board treats its key stakeholders - the paying public.

i have in wankhede it was a smooth experience. I am a NRI based in the UK and have even been to lords and the oval. I rate the renovated wankhede right up there as a stadium. Only issue probably is that its too small. Boundaries especially. Though thats an issue with the Oval as well.