In the first test between India and England, which begins on February 5, there will be a 42-year-old debutant. He will also take part in the second test, which will also be played in Chennai on 13 February. The script of the two trials could lie in his possession.
V Ramesh Kumar received a call from the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association during the first week of 2021. (TNCA). For the first two Tests of the England series, he was asked to take over as the curator. The full “surprise” took Ramesh backward. For even a first-class contest, he had never planned a pitch. Ramesh had to get to Chepauk in less than a month now, as the MA Chidambaram Stadium is popularly called.
There is little about Ramesh that fits the typical profile in India of a head groundsman. Usually, curators have mastered the craft of pitch-making on the run at most Indian venues and have grown with time.
On the other hand, Ramesh, who comes from Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, a textile manufacturing town, is a businessman and runs two prosperous apparel businesses: Cosimo International, a garment manufacturing company that exports to European companies, and Allwin Colours, a dyeing company. Ramesh oversees over 700 employees at both firms, along with his wife, Malarvizhi Giri, who is a chartered accountant. Apart from an MS in psychology, Ramesh also has an MBA in international business.
During his college days, Ramesh was a good runner, representing Tamil Nadu at 110 m hurdles and was part of the state relay teams and also won two medals at the 1996 national championships. As part of his dream to help young boys grow into successful players, Ramesh opened the Tirupur School of Cricket about a decade ago. He purchased land and designed a small pitch surrounded by a “lush green” outfield with two matting pitches, one grass pitch, and 12 practice strips. He would need to hire ground personnel from Chennai to handle the ground and pitch, which was proving difficult, so he wanted to learn the craft himself. The TNCA, thankfully, had a solution for him.
Ramesh says, “I got a call from the TNCA, suggesting I attend the BCCI course on pitch-making,” I wanted to learn it professionally. Because I’m taking care of 80 children at my academy, I want to do something for the sport.”I wanted to learn it professionally. I want to do something for the sport considering I am taking care of 80 kids at my academy.”
Ramesh claims that his professional style may have inspired the TNCA, which may have influenced them to give him such a key role, where pitches not only need to be result-oriented, but the ICC often awards scores depending on their actions. “Having been running businesses I can manage teams and time. Once I had committed to TNCA I decided I will do the job. Also, I can segregate things that are key in running a business. I am a curator and have to work as a groundsman. My business is different.”
The Chepauk pitch has historically borne a bald appearance. However, the square and the outfield have been lush green this time around. A few practice matches were hosted by the TNCA at the venue ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy group phase in the first half of January.
“There is no open spot. The outfield has a soft bed and is lush green, “There is no open spot. The outfield has a soft bed and is lush green.
There are eight pitches in Square Chepauk. He works alongside Chatterjee on four pitches, according to Ramesh, two each for each of the tests.
The groundsmen deal on differing soil profiles on two distinct forms of the pitch. One is strictly red soil, but its character is distinct from the red soil at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, which usually provides all bowlers with bounce and assistance. On the other side, the red soil in Chennai will become flat easily until rolled up. This is one explanation – at the moment – that on the first day the pitch will have a greenish cover. The second pitch has a mixed profile: a foundation of nearly three inches of local red soil with a top layer composed of black clay. In the days leading up to the match, a final decision on which pitch will host the first Test will be made.
The recent history is bound to have an impact on the pitch’s existence. The Ranji Trophy contest between Tamil Nadu and Railways in January 2020 was the last first-class match played on the ground. The game, which also starred R Ashwin, India’s main spinner, was over in two days. That pitch was viewed as solely red dirt.
The last Test game played on the field in 2016 was coincidentally between India and England, with the hosts winning on the fifth day in the final hour. It was the match where a triple century was scored by Karun Nair and one run shy of a double century dropped by KL Rahul as India amassed their highest Test score.
Ramesh knew the intricacies of pitch-making under Chatterjee’s guidance: from fertilizing the dirt to rewatching turf, to rolling and watering the pitches in a manner where the surface from the first day does not become a dustbowl and crumble. He says Ramesh is optimistic. “It should be a good contest. I am expecting good cricket. Both teams should enjoy. We are in safe hands. Our preparations are on the mark. I am ready.”
Ramesh is expected to be exposed to the stresses of Test cricket in the next two weeks. “Once I completed my course I did have the ambition of making a Test-match pitch one day. This is very early. I never expected the day will come.”
And anything but anxious is Ramesh. “No. The only thing is there is only a three-day break between the first two Test matches, but I’m very comfortable. Simultaneously I’m working on pitches for both matches. I have a plan, I have a system, I have a schedule. I am not nervous. This is my first assignment, that is the only thing. Straightaway I am making a Test pitch.”,