New table-top cricket ground in Wayanad

Wayanad: A brand new cricket ground in the hilly district of Wayanad near Sulthan Battery located about 900 metres above sea level has become the second such facility in the country, after the stadium at Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. "Wow, this is beautiful and it could well go on to be a training ground for our national team. It has all the ambience and well could be the ideal training ground ahead of say an England tour," said national selector and former Indian pacer Roger Binny who visited the ground.

Located a stone's throw from the National Highway to Mysore, the ground is picturesquely set with mountains on three sides and offers a breath-taking view. Speaking to IANS, T.C. Mathew, secretary of the Kerala Cricket Association, said: "The ground is now ready and with this the first phase is over and we spend Rs.6.5 million as cost of the land and Rs.25 million to make it into a cricket ground. Now the second phase will start soon and it would be a Rs.30 million project where we will construct a stadium and rooms and this would be over in April next year."

Chief selector of the Kerala Ranji Cricket team R.K.V. Gopakumar said this is going to be a ground which could see a lot of cricket activity simply because of its beautiful settings. "In the next season, there could be a Ranji trophy match at this new ground. Plans are underway that there will be open spaces where spectators could sit on the ground, similar to what we see in cricket grounds in Australia and South Africa," said Gopakumar.