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Thin attendance on opening day

Sports Reporter

Chennai: The 45,000-capacity M.A. Chidambaram Stadium was just about a quarter full on the first day of the India-England Test match; a figure that led most to believe security and national sentiments prevailed over the game’s passionate following.

In reality, the impact of the recent events and the task of going through layers of security would have kept back just a negligible few. The format of the game had the more defining role in the decision to come or not come.

Those who chose to show up made it clear the decision was already made.

“We are all here for the love of the game. The security procedure was never going to be a big problem,” said N.P. Sridhar, a former Chennai Port Trust employee and a former cricketer.

Security personnel studiously encircling the playing area and the occasional announcement cautioning overzealous spectators were the few signs that revealed the current climate. The stadium attendance and the atmosphere were deserving of the first day of an India-England Test match in which England’s opening batsmen stuttered to 63 runs in the first session; even if things did get better thereafter.

Health of Test cricket

The attendance is more a reflection of the health of Test cricket than the recent happenings.

The Champions League, scheduled to take place in the city earlier this month, would have attracted frenzy similar to what one witnessed in May.

Traditionally, if anything swelled numbers in a Test match, it was India batting. But even that prospect isn’t guaranteed an appropriate response today.

The India-Australia series, a follow-up to the acrimonious and intense series Down Under, was played in front of sparse crowds.

In keeping with recent figures, the numbers on Thursday weren’t too much of a surprise.

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