Sharmistha Gooptu in London
Rain, rain and raining… We were just finishing our lunch — a few of us who had taken our plates early and were following the match on the press lounge television. A predicted storm alert had everyone looking skyward since the time they were up this morning. Pitch covers came on and off within a matter of minutes right before the start of the match, but drizzle it was which soon stopped and the match got underway.
Even half-an-hour back it had seemed to be clearing up, with a spot of the sun out through the clouds. A few of us were joking about how frustrated the Met department people must be here, because of the inherent unpredictability of the weather in this country.
And then, within the next quarter of the hour it was pouring. Pitch covers came on a good two minutes later. Umbrellas went up in the stands and people ran inside for some shade. Our team that had gone outside the stadium to do their lunch LIVE seemed uncertain about taking out their equipment because the rain was coming on heavy.
Now the umbrellas have again gone down in the stands and people are trickling back. The team outside has been able to start the live show, though they have their umbrellas ready. The Super Sopper has started its work and the ground staff are in their rain gear and watchful around the covered square. It will take some time to dry this up, and the delay might be longer rather than shorter.
This is part of the unpredictability and charm of a Test match in England. The weather becomes a player to reckon with — an element with its own mind, and even the weathermen are probably left beating their heads sometimes!
P. S. It is just announced there will be an inspection at 2 o’clock local time, which is half-an-hour from now.