Former Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has asked why Cricket South Africa chose Kingsmead in Durban to host the first Test against Australia.
He raised two concerns. The first was South Africa’s poor record at the ground. The second was the small crowds that Durban draws for Test cricket.
“For me, there’s a big question mark that I would like to ask the powers of South Africa, whoever makes those decisions,” Du Plessis said on his cricinfo podcast.
He spoke after the Proteas lost the opening Test by 214 runs. He said it was hard to understand why the home side would start a big series at a ground where the visitors have done so well.
The defeat added to a weak run for South Africa at Kingsmead. The Proteas have now lost eight of their last 12 Tests at the venue. Australia have won four Tests in a row there, going back to 2009.
Du Plessis said starting there was like telling the other team to begin at the place where they feel most comfortable.
“If I compare it to the other venues in South Africa, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Wanderers, at all of those venues, South Africa, the Proteas, have a superior record. So there’s my first question that I would ask,” he said.
The numbers against Australia tell a more mixed story, according to IOL. Since South Africa returned to Test cricket, Australia have won five of the seven Tests played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
The two sides have each won one of the two Tests played at Centurion. At Newlands in Cape Town, Australia have won four of seven Tests.
St George’s Park in Gqeberha is the only ground where the Proteas lead. They have won two of the three Tests played there against Australia. It is also the venue for the second Test of the series.
Du Plessis said his concern went beyond results. He said Durban has long struggled to fill its stands for Test matches. This is one reason the Boxing Day Test has moved to Centurion in the past few years.
“Secondly, from a crowd perspective, Durban is also the worst viewing numbers ground in South Africa,” he said.
“Now they come back, no crowd, and you look at the TV and you go, ‘No, that’s not good, man. I don’t want to see that. I want to see a full crowd watching this big series,’” Du Plessis said.
Du Plessis is the only Proteas captain since 1991 to win Test series against Australia both away and at home. He led South Africa to a series win in Australia in 2016 and at home in 2018.
The 2018 series was marked by the ball tampering scandal in Cape Town known as Sandpapergate. Two years earlier, Du Plessis was charged in the Hobart Test for using a sweet to shine the ball.
IOL said it asked Cricket South Africa about the scheduling of the series on the first day of the Kingsmead Test. The body had not replied by the time IOL published its report.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.