Can’t have nets, but Alastair Cook’s thoughts with Chennai

England skipper Alastair Cook is extremely disturbed after seeing the misery of the people of Chennai who are suffering in the aftermath of cyclone Vardah

CHENNAI India and England did not have nets ahead of the final Test starting on Friday due to wet practice pitches following cyclone Vardah which lashed the city, but England skipper Alastair Cook said it was nothing compared to the hardship people faced due to the nature’s fury.

England skipper Alastair Cook has said the discomfiture of missing the practice session in Chennai paled in front of the misery of the people who were still suffering in the aftermath of Cyclone Vardah. (AFP)

At least 10 people died in Tamil Nadu in the cyclone. Thousands of fallen trees in Chennai are still being cleared while disruption in power and mobile services has not been fully restored.

Asked about the teams being deprived of nets, Cook said: “It is my 140th game, and I have never played in a game where we haven’t had nets.

“But sometimes you have to remember what happened in the cyclone, people lost their lives. So, a nets session a day before doesn’t seem quite as important as what people have gone through. We are only driving from hotel to here, airport to hotel. Looking around, it is a reminder how lucky we are.”

England also travelled to India after the 2008 Mumbai attacks and featured in a thrilling Test in Chennai, which the hosts won.