Mel Hussain takes strike again at ‘home away from home’

Chennai was location to the Hussain siblings successful the 1960s and 70s, a spot wherever the brothers built the archetypal blocks for their future.

It is wherefore a specified notation of the confederate metropolis was capable to evoke the emotions of Mel Hussain, the elder member of erstwhile England skipper Nasser Hussain.

“I find it hard to adapt. I recognize wherefore the sanction was changed, but it is inactive ‘Madras’ to me,” Mel, a erstwhile English First Class cricketer, told The Hindu connected Monday.

Born to an Indian begetter and English mother, Mel spent the formative years of his beingness successful Chennai earlier his household shifted basal to the United Kingdom.

The 62-year-old is backmost astatine his ‘home distant from home’ for the England Lions 60s circuit of India, which includes six matches successful Chennai and Puducherry betwixt January 27 and February 3.

“I lived present for adjacent to 13 years, truthful I ever get excited erstwhile I travel backmost to Chennai. Everything astir Chennai brings backmost fantastic memories. Right aft landing here, the archetypal happening I did was person a masala dosa. I miss it truthful severely erstwhile I americium successful England. I talk a spot of Tamil, and I inactive person household members surviving here,” added Mel.

During the interaction, the sexagenarian could not assistance but callback the memorable clip helium enjoyed with erstwhile India internationals astatine the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

“Chepauk was 2nd location to me. It was antithetic backmost then; we had a beauteous clubhouse and garden. I played for a phenomenal Madras Cricket Club broadside led by S. Venkataraghavan [during his teens]. It was large to play with the likes of Venkataraghavan, K. Srikkanth, L. Sivaramakrishnan, Robin Singh, Bharath Reddy and T.A. Sekar,” Mel said.

Mel, contempt being successful his 60s, has not near cricket and cricket has not near him either. When helium enters the tract connected Tuesday, helium volition instrumentality a travel down representation lane.