VIDEO | 'Reptilian Death Scare' in Ranji Trophy as snake intervention delays start of play

When excessive sun rays stopped play in New Zealand early this year, it was a spectacle not easy to understand. Could cricket really be impacted as much by climate change? That, it could, opened a pandora's box but what could you really do if a snake enters the ground and you are totally unprepared for it? The serene beauty of Devineni Venkata Ramana Praneetha Ground in Mulapadu made for a perfect Ranji watching experience but the snake added extra charm to it.

As C R Gnaneshwar and D B Prashanth Kumar - two Andhra Pradesh openers - were ready to take strike, with Vidarbha players welcoming Wasim Jaffer to the field for the latter's 150th first-class match, the camera suddenly panned towards the boundary line where a group of groundsmen were trying to capture something. In a closer look, it was clear that it was a snake that was making its presence felt in the stadium with all its glory and it, in a way, brought back the memories of old times when it was a common sight in a cricket ground.

While the snake was not at all concerned about the enormity of the occasion, the reaction of the ground staff was rather amusing. They were trying to evade the snake by clapping in front of the reptile.  Well, after all, there could hardly be anything they could have done otherwise.