Rassie's Dogs...

And Pakistan's restrictions

    There is plenty about which cannot be spoken during this tournament, chiefly the in-ground experience for spectators who are not accustomed to the T&Cs of watching cricket live in India and also the T&Cs of the Pakistan teams involvement in it.

    Some of the world’s larger media organisations have dared broach the twin subjects but, here at Manners-on-Cricket, the editorial committee has decided to steer clear of controversy in order to keep our accreditation.

    There are multiple first-hand accounts of spectator misery, but not being allowed to take vital Diabetic medication or even small bottles of water into the ground are none of our business. We wouldn’t dare question the decision to confiscate small tubes of lip-balm as ‘dangerous weapons’.

    The decision to restrict the Pakistan team to their hotel rooms and allocate them a (small) private breakfast room is surely in their best interests. What good could possibly come from permitting them to stroll the lobby of their hotel, or even pop out for a packet of biscuits? The armed protection unit assigned to them is exactly that – protection. Not quite the same experience for the rest of the teams, but better safe than sorry.

    Finally made it to Chennai’s Marina Beach, after all these years. It is enormous, at least 500 metres from sidewalk to surf and at least 4km long. A couple of thousand stalls selling everything from lassie to fried shrimp were mostly closed early this morning but the debris from 10,000 evening visitors was everywhere. The beach is a vital part of Chennai society, but its ecosystem is not one the ocean is enjoying. The plastic is ankle-deep. in places. Chose not to picture them.

Global micro-economies are fascinating and the paw-paw lady’s payment system was easy to admire. No more dealing with handfuls of rupees throughout the day, now that people can enjoy their fruit with a swipe of their phone – even if it is just a couple of Rand.

    Rassie van der Dussen did what many of us were inclined to by offering tenderness and affection to the stray dogs which abound, specifically to the ones with the curiosity and courage to explore the evening net session. There were 11 photographers assigned to the practise, and all of them had their attention on the dog-interaction. The nets were 45 degrees to the right.

    And finally, a thought-experiment, seeing as we don’t have smell-technology for the column, yet. Look carefully at the waste-water in the photo below and you will see it is bubbling, from below. Nothing which flows into this ocean entrance is ‘treated’. It starts many kilometres away. Look at the picture and think ‘sewerage, ammonia and the smell of death.’ Can you breath? Are your eyes watering? Mine were.

    None of which is ‘negative’ – it is what it is. India is incredible and fascinating but 1.4 billion people create a lot of harmful waste. They may well have the desire to change, but they certainly don’t have the means.

    South Africa play Pakistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium tomorrow. Temba Bavuma will play. He was really, genuinely good in his pre-match media chat.