Watching Cricket in South Africa

The ICC World Twenty20 just wrapped in Kolkata, but if you’re interested in seeing a cricket match live, the West Indies Tri-Series will be returning to South Africa this summer. Here are three stadiums to catch a game in one of the biggest cricket countries in the world.

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Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town

Home to the Cape Cobras, Newlands Cricket Ground is claimed by many to be the most beautiful stadium built for the sport. The grounds sit in the shadow of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, and it’s one of the few cricket fields known for assisting spin bowlers. If you’re looking for a relaxing day in Cape Town, the stadium sells low-cost tickets for the grassy knoll, a great place to have a picnic and enjoy a match.

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Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban

This venue was founded in 1939 to host what is now remembered as the Timeless Match. After getting readmitted into the International Cricket Council, South Africa hosted a test match against England that lasted for 10 days, only to get called off so the English team could make their ship back home. The grounds are known to favor seam bowlers (think screwball pitchers) due to an urban legend regarding high tide. Kingsmead is a short walk away from the Indian Ocean, and many teams over the years claimed the rising water table in the ground throws off batters.

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Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Wanderers isn’t especially old, but it has seen a number of legendary matches and world record settings. Just last year, South Africa’s AB de Villiers broke the world record for a half century, making 50 off 16 balls, and later that same match he broke the record for a full century with 100 off 31 balls.