A casual glance at the outfield -- those parts that weren't under the covers, that is -- was enough to convince even the casual onlooker that it was an area of some concern ahead of an important international fixture. A stroll along the ground made it clearer that a fair amount of work needed to be done, and the elements had to co-operate, for a prompt 9.00 am start on match-day.

Wet and soggy despite the absence of a major downpour since Saturday, the outfield made for sad viewing. Little gulleys created to facilitate the passage of water beyond the ambit of the playing area were cursorily covered with sand, as were most parts of the rest of the ground. The underfoot conditions were soft, sandy and a touch slippery, though it isn't time to hit the panic buttons yet.

Fortunately, the teams didn't arrive here until Sunday night, so they didn't have to worry themselves about the potential for injury the ground in its current state holds because they didn't have a first-hand taste of the conditions. The good news, though, is that for fair spells on Sunday, the sun came out and aided the drying up process, though the continued presence of menacing patches of dark clouds meant the threat from Nature has far from blown over.

The pitch itself appeared shipshape. Prepared by Chennai curator Parthasarathy, it was hard to the touch, and totally untouched by the fury of the rains. The playing surface is unlikely to be the culprit in the event of a delayed start on Tuesday. Saying that, the ground staff and local organisers could do with a day of bright sunshine on Monday to wipe out any lingering fears of the lack of readiness of the ground spoiling an eagerly awaited party at what is essentially a football venue.