The first day of England’s final Test against India here could be hit by a TV and radio blackout after Monday’s cyclone damaged communications infrastructure at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

The severe tropical storm left 16 people dead and uprooted more than 10,000 trees and electricity pylons in Chennai.

However, the match is scheduled to go ahead as planned as damage to the actual ground has been limited. Some gates have been blown away, as have bulbs on floodlights and sightscreens have also shattered. The practice facilities, though, are ruined, with the nets being rendered unusable in the lead-up to the game.

Both teams were unable to practice today but have been told they can erect nets in the middle to train tomorrow. Kashi Viswanathan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, confirmed the match will go ahead as planned on Friday. But he has raised the possibility of no TV or radio coverage for the early stages of the Test, with host broadcaster Star Sports, Sky and BBC’s Test Match Special working round the clock to try and ensure they can get on air by the time the match starts on Friday morning.

“We have been badly affected by the cyclone,” said Viswanathan. “The infrastructure has been affected which we are trying to put back in place. We are hopeful it will be done before tomorrow evening. The wicket and the ground is fine. The problem is with the connections which are necessary for broadcasts.

“Hopefully everything should be alright and we’ll have a Test to see.”

Meanwhile, Ben Stokes has urged Alastair Cook to stay on as Test captain following the series.

England trail 3-0 heading into the final match and Cook will sit down with Andrew Strauss, England’s director of cricket, in the new year to discuss his future.

Cook admitted he has “questions to answer” after his side’s innings defeat in the Fourth Test in Mumbai that handed India the series.

Stokes, though, has urged him to stay. The all-rounder said: “He doesn’t want anything more than success for the team and he wants to drive that forward and as a leader I think he’s been brilliant and still will be.”