Still a long way to go for MIG

The secretary of the Middle Income Group Club, Pravin Barve, has done a remarkable job in preparing the MIG ground for the Ranji Trophy match between giants Mumbai and a formidable Baroda side. The fact that a lot of facilities have been specially drafted for the occasion is commendable and Barve has indeed put in a mammoth effort in strengthening the arrangements at the ground.

The stands specially constructed all around the ground housing 5000 cricket crazy spectators have stood the test of the entire event. The Christmas spirit was lively all during the match and the festive atmosphere which prevailed can be testified to by the noise, the bands playing popular tunes, the crowds chanting Sachin's name and reacting to Vinod Kambli's antics on the field. The matters that have gone unnoticed in the midst of all this festivity are those pertaining to the game itself.

The sightscreen at the pavilion end is in contact with the boundary at all times. When the bowling is in operation from the opposite end, a score of people can be seen hovering around the sightscreen and in front of it. This is a bother for the umpires since any movement behind the keeper at the sightscreen serves as a distraction to the umpire for the split second when he is focusing on the delivery.

Another very important aspect of the game is for the scorers to be situated close to the teams. Instead the official scorers have been seated alongside the pressbox at the second floor of the building whereas the players pavilion is on the first floor. The gap in communication is not bridged by the organising committee. The only solace that the teams have is the scoreboard on the ground which leaves a lot to the imagination of the spectators, let alone the players.

The MIG ground has numerous trees encircling the grounds with their branches well over the boundary lines. The amazing fact is that the branches have been ostensibly trimmed and chopped for the match. A big question mark hovers over how the Municipality approved such an operation since the branches can still be seen edging across the boundary. A lofted shot could very easily hit the branches and fall back in the field deeming the ball dead.

The umpires have to then consult with both the captains and take a mutually acceptable decision. Now this is what happens in lower levels of domestic cricket, but this is no lower division match, it involves the cream of Indian domestic cricket. With players like stumper Nayan Mongia, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, Test discard Vinod Kambli, new found pace ace Zaheer Khan, and the canny Ajit Agarkar locking horns with each other, a match of this importance and stature needs to have the best of playing conditions. The efforts on the part of the ground committee are commendable but at the same time lacking drastically in many ways.

The two special stands built at the edge of the boundaries on both ends of the ground are too close for comfort. Even though the stands have only children it proves a nuisance to the players, a particular instance being when Baroda's fast bowler Rakesh Patel was mobbed by kids at the boundary just after he went back to field in the fine leg position. The interesting fact was that none of the umpires nor the security at the boundary lines noticed anything. Only when the situation got frantic and Patel began calling out, did the constables on duty take notice. Such an instance may have proved unfortunate had it been a close game and a crucial boundary struck at the same position.

The other notable factor was the constant throwing and littering of the ground by the spectators. Paper plates and plastic water bottles were seen hurtling into the ground from the boundary lines, completely unchecked by the security officials. The committee has done a brilliant job, no doubt, in laying the grounds and preparing a good wicket but some very basic aspects have been neglected.