- Title: INDIA: CRICKET - First test between India and England begins amid tight security
- Date: 12th December 2008
- Summary: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA (DECEMBER 11, 2008) (ANI) EXTERIOR OF CHIDAMBARAM STADIUM ENGLISH FANS COMING INTO THE STADIUM YOUNG MAN GETTING THE INDIAN FLAG PAINTED ON HIS FACE CRICKET FANS WAVING TO THE CAMERA POLICE PATROLLING THE STREETS OUTSIDE THE STADIUM HUNDREDS OF FANS LINE UP OUTSIDE THE CHIDAMBARAM STADIUM POLICE WALKING PAST FANS POLICE SITTING ON HORSE POLICE FRISKING THE SPECTATORS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CRICKET FAN FROM CHENNAI, PRANJAL, SAYING: "After the blasts in Bombay we all thought that there would be no test matches between India and England. We all expect the players to perform the way they have been performing in the past one day matches." (SOUNDBITE) (English) CRICKET FAN FROM CHENNAI, ANANT, SAYING: "I'm really excited about the big game. India had a crushing win in the one day series and there was a 5-0 whitewash. So we are really excited about this game. It is a clear day today and we hope there won't be any rain here. Outside the stadium there is a lot of excitement." FANS STANDING OUTSIDE THE STADIUM HOLDING PLACARDS
- Embargoed: 27th December 2008 11:57
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA4BCD4IO3E79PHVYS9KUTTDK9B
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Security was tight around Chidambaram Stadium in India's southern city of Chennai on Thursday (December 11) as India and England prepared to play their first test match since gunman opened fire on various hotels and restaurants in Mumbai.
Indian authorities stepped up security to meet the safety concerns of the England team in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.
The last two of seven one-day games were cancelled after the 60-hour siege.
Over 3,000 security personnel, including mounted police, were put on duty.
And Cricket fans were thoroughly frisked before entering the stadium.
Pranjal, a cricket fan from Chennai, was pleased the test series between India and England was resuming.
"After the blasts in Bombay we all thought that there would be no test matches between India and England. We all expect the players to perform the way they have been performing in the past one day matches," said Pranjal.
Anant, another fan, hoped that India would make a clean sweep of the Test series.
"I'm really excited about the big game. India had a crushing win in the one-day series and there was a 5-0 whitewash. So we are really excited about this game. It is a clear day today and we hope there won't be any rain here. Outside the stadium there is a lot of excitement," said Anant.
Still, the recent attacks on India's financial capital are never far from people's minds.
Both the teams observed a one-minute silence for the victims of the Mumbai blasts before the match began. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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