Going strong: Mel Hussain is part of the England Lions 60s team that will play six matches in Chennai and Puducherry. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
It is why a mere mention of the southern metropolis was enough to evoke the emotions of Mel Hussain, the elder brother of former England captain Nasser Hussain.
“I find it difficult to adapt. I understand why the name was changed, but it is still ‘Madras’ to me,” Mel, a former English First Class cricketer, told The Hindu on Monday.
Born to an Indian father and English mother, Mel spent the formative years of his life in Chennai before his family shifted base to the United Kingdom.
The 62-year-old is back at his ‘home away from home’ for the England Lions 60s tour of India, which includes six matches in Chennai and Puducherry between January 27 and February 3.
“I lived here for close to 13 years, so I always get excited when I come back to Chennai. Everything about Chennai brings back fantastic memories. Right after landing here, the first thing I did was have a masala dosa. I miss it so badly when I am in England. I speak a bit of Tamil, and I still have family members living here,” added Mel.
During the interaction, the sexagenarian could not help but recall the memorable time he enjoyed with former India internationals at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
“Chepauk was second home to me. It was different back then; we had a beautiful clubhouse and garden. I played for a phenomenal Madras Cricket Club side led by S. Venkataraghavan [during his teens]. It was great to play with the likes of Venkataraghavan, K. Srikkanth, L. Sivaramakrishnan, Robin Singh, Bharath Reddy and T.A. Sekar,” Mel said.
Mel, despite being in his 60s, has not left cricket and cricket has not left him either. When he enters the field on Tuesday, he will take a trip down memory lane.
Published – January 26, 2026 08:44 pm IST
