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Chennai cricket has a laid-back approach to it seldom seen elsewhere, and a strong tendency among its players to see the funny side of most situations connected with the game. To understand Chennai cricket, we must first learn its unique technical terms. Here are some samples: Arai kozhi: A long hop. (Literally, ‘half a chicken’!!)
Azhukku batsman: Literally “dirt(y)” batsman; someone your bowlers don’t know how to dismiss; usually a dour, defensive one. Bye-runner: A runner who runs for an injured batsman, usually refused permission by the fielding captain. Danda out: A bad decision by the umpire. This term is usually employed by a batsman who has failed in a match, when a friend asks him how many runs he has scored. Dhanakoti sixer or local six: A mistimed skier that ends in a catch within single-saving distance. Made famous by Dhanakoti, a stonewaller in local cricket.
Gada Munuswami: A slogger or wild hitter. Goal: To misfield and let the ball go between your legs. Grease: Archaic local pronunciation of “crease”. Katthi (knife): A crossbatted shot. KPP or kuri pathu podu or kala pathu podu: Bowl a sandshoe crusher. Lottu: Dour defence. Manga: Literally means mango, a colourful term for chucking or throwing by a bowler. “Manga adikkaranda”, is the way a suspect action is described meaning the bowler throws stones to bring down mangoes. Mookku mele (literally, on top of your nose): Same as above. Over gaaji: Taking a single off the last ball of an over. Paper score: Getting enough runs or wickets to have your name published in the newspaper (Used to be 25 runs or three wickets, now 40 runs in The Hindu). Pazham: A poor fielder, especially a poor catcher. Poi bowling: The hard-to-please Chennaiite’s description of the stuff dished out by most spin bowlers. Poi means a lie, and this term denotes lack of spin or fictitious spin. A variation is poi bowler. Rude or feed bowling: Fast bowling. (Feed is a mispronunciation of speed). Sign match: A match at the end of which the losing captain signs in acknowledgement of his team’s defeat. Strictly street corner or neighbourhood cricket formality. A further value addition is provided by the umpire(s) affixing his/ their signatures. Set-up: A fixed match Tyte: A bowler who runs in like Tyson and bowls like Gupte; a bowler who has a long and impressive run-up but doesn’t achieve any appreciable pace. Uruttal: A ball that shoots all along the ground. Veeral: Wild hitting. The Sardars of Chepauk
Besides scoring more than 1500 runs at an average of 35 plus and taking over 150 wickets at a pusillanimous average in the Ranji Trophy, the Sardar of Chepauk contributed three sons to the state team, two of whom went on to play for India. An even greater contribution was his coaching of three generations of young cricketers in the state and elsewhere in India. A G Kripal Singh was the eldest of Ram Singh’s sons and the finest all round cricketer of them all. An accomplished batsman, ‘Pali’ as he was known to one and all was an astute strategist, an inspiring leader of men and a clever off spinner, who won many a psychological battle over batsmen of class. Hopes of a bright career were raised when he made a splendid century on debut against New Zealand at Hyderabad in 1955.
Kripal Singh was a new recruit in the Madras team that beat Holkar at Indore in the Ranji Trophy final in 1955, and an unknown quantity whose brilliant all round display in that match took the formidable host completely by surprise. In fact, Kripal’s performance that year was a major factor responsible for the success of Balu Alaganan’s men.... Published by Kalamkriya Ltd and distributed by EastWest Books (Madras) Pvt. Ltd, the book, 'The Mosquitos and Jolly Rovers' is priced at Rs 295. Kalamkriya, 9, Cathedral
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2008, Chennai Interactive
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Chennai’s cricket lingo
Gaaji: Hogging the strike.
The Ram Singhs have been an integral part of Tamil Nadu cricket for over seventy years. The story has often been repeated of how the late patriarch of that unusual cricketing clan was denied a place in the Indian team despite being far and away the best all rounder of his time. Yes, Amritsar Govind Ram Singh was a towering figure in Madras cricket in the first two decades of the Madras Cricket Association.
At one time tipped to lead India, Kripal lost out on account of an alleged tendency to court trouble off the field. An interesting conversationalist and a keen student of the game, Kripal was popular among his peers as well as players much younger, especially during his stint as a national selector. 
