Oldest SA venue to charm Bangladesh

The oldest of South Africa’s international cricket venues having hosted the country’s first test match against England in 1889 - which the visitors won by eight wickets – St. George’s Park retains a patriarchal patronage over the game with its ‘old world charm’ and sense of history.

Two years later, in 1891, South Africa’s first rugby international was also staged at St. George’s and the venue book-ended the first ‘era’ of South Africa’s international cricket life by staging the final test match against Australia in 1970 before 21 years of sporting isolation.

Just a couple of kilometres from the famous Kings Beach and its popular causeway for joggers, cyclists and paddlers, the venue remains one of the most popular and social venues in South Africa.

The world-famous brass band creates a unique atmosphere in world cricket but sometimes divides opinion with their relentless enthusiasm and occasional, sometimes regular habit of playing on while the game continues rather than between overs. But most players love it.

Umpire Khumar Dharmasena once demanded the band be silenced during a test match against Australia in 2018 because he said they were affecting his concentration and ability to hear batting edges and the band left the stadium in protest – only to return an hour later to raucous cheers from the spectators.

A reputation for ‘low and slow’ pitches may have been warranted during the 1990s and 2000s but long-serving head ground curator, Adi Carter, has worked wonders to imbue the playing surface with more pace and bounce and he has not received the credit he deserves.

The grand Duckpond Stand provides over 6 000 seats and a wealth of hospitality options and the stadium accommodates 18 000 people at full capacity, 2 000 of which get to enjoy the grass banks from where the best atmosphere can be generated.