CRICKET WORLD CUP 2003
3 countries, 15 world-class grounds
It's a cricket safari! Take a quick tour of the venues for the 2003 Cricket World Cup, with one ground in Kenya, two in Zimbabwe and 12 spread right across South Africa. And if you think they're new to world cricket, think again!
Goodyear Park, Bloemfontein
Located in Bloemfontein, capital of Free State province, Goodyear Park is a spectator-friendly ground, with the sizeable grass embankment on the eastern side especially popular with spectators. The pitch is recognised as a good one-day wicket and is usually conducive to high scoring.
The ground has been used for limited-overs internationals since the fifth one-day international between South Africa and India in December 1992, and hosted its first Test in October 1999 when South Africa took on Zimbabwe.
Interestingly, it hasn’t been the best of hunting grounds for South Africa. The Proteas, a very successful limited-overs team, won only six of 12 one-day internationals they played
at the ground until March 2002.
Goodyear Park has hosted 14 limited-overs internationals in all. The team batting second has won 54% of the matches played.
Goodyear Park is part of a wonderful sporting complex that includes facilities of either international of provincial standard for athletics, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis and swimming. The ground will host five World Cup matches, including two in the Super Sixes stage of the tournament.
Willowmoore Park, Benoni
One of South Africa’s newer international grounds, Willowmoore Park, a smaller-sized venue and home of the Easterns provincial team, first hosted a one-day international in February 1997 when India met Zimbabwe. The ground has large grassed areas that are especially popular with groups of friends who like to bask in the sun while watching cricket.
South Africa has played at the ground only twice, beating New Zealand by six wickets and Kenya by seven wickets.
Until October 2001, Willowmoore Park had hosted just four limited-overs internationals, but it has been in the mix more often in recent times.
In the four matches played, the side batting second has won on three occasions.
Willowmoore Park will host just two matches during the World Cup. The first game features the West Indies against Bangladesh on 18 February. The second takes place on 3 March when New Zealand tackles Canada. It will not be Canada’s first foray at the World Cup - they contested the second edition of the tournament in England in 1979.
Newlands, Cape Town
Newlands is reckoned by many to be the most picturesque Test cricket ground in the world, with the mountain overlooking the ground shrouded in clouds, tasteful chalets and trees, impressive stands and open grassed areas. The ground is also synonymous with a fantastic atmosphere.
Newlands hosted its first one-day international in 1992 when Hansie Cronje
captured 5 for 32 to help South Africa to a six-wicket win over India. It was a Test ground over a century before that, hosting the second Test between England and South Africa in March 1889.
Newlands has been a particularly good ground to South Africa in limited-overs internationals - the Proteas won 14 of the 16 one-day internationals they contested there until April 2002. In all, 18 limited overs internationals had been played at the Cape Town ground until that date, including a February 1993 contest between the West Indies and Pakistan in which the Pakistanis were blasted out for just 43 runs, an effort that included six ducks!
The side batting first has won two-thirds of the matches played at Newlands.
The ground will host both the opening ceremony and the opening match of the World Cup, between South Africa and the West Indies. In all it will host five matches, three of which will be category A matches between established Test-playing nations, as well as one
contest in the Super Sixes.
Supersport Park, Centurion
Rated one of the 10 best grounds in the world by Indian legend Kapil Dev, Supersport Park is a 20 000-seater that boasts a wonderful grand stand and superb open grassed embankments. It hosted its first one-day international in December 1992 and its first Test in November 1995, a match in which Shaun Pollock made his debut for South Africa against England.
Supersport Park has proved an excellent one-day ground, with a wicket that is conducive to free scoring but usually has a little in it for bowlers of all kinds.
Up until April 2002, Supersport Park had hosted 14 limited-overs internationals. South African played in 12 of those games, winning seven of them.
The ground has been fairly good to teams regardless of whether they have batted first or second. The general tendency is to bat first in one-day international cricket, but the winning percentage for sides batting first
at Supersport Park is just 57.1.
Five World Cup matches will be played at Supersport Park, including two category A contests (games between established Test-playing nations) and two Super Six showdowns.
Kingsmead, Durban
Kingsmead is a 25 000-seater stadium located within walking distance of Durban’s famed Indian Ocean shoreline. It hosted its first one-day international in December 1992, but its first Test was hosted in January 1923.
Kingsmead was also home to the famous “Timeless Test” played in 1939 between England and South Africa. The match lasted from the third to the thirteenth of March, but was eventually declared a draw amid concerns that the English team would miss its ship home!
By the end of April 2002, Kingsmead had hosted 17 one-day internationals, of which South Africa had played in 15, recording nine wins, five losses and one no-result. A February 1993 contest at the ground between Pakistan and the West
Indies resulted in the biggest victory in terms of runs in a one-day international, the Caribbean side winning by 124 runs.
Kingsmead has usually favoured teams batting second, with 56.2% of all victories being attained by the side batting last.
Kingsmead will host one of the two World Cup semi-finals. Two category A matches will also be played at the ground, as well as one Super Sixes game.
Buffalo Park, East London
A small ground with plentiful grass embankments, East London's Buffalo Park, home to the Border Bears, first tasted international cricket in December 1992 when India defeated South Africa in the seventh and final one-day international of their series.
The ground has since been used on a regular basis, and by the beginning of 2002 had hosted 13 limited-overs internationals.
There have been some special moments in those games. In December 1994, Pakistani paceman Waqar Younis claimed a hat-trick against New
Zealand, while in January 1999 Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carl Hooper put on a fourth-wicket stand of 226 for the West Indies against South Africa. Incredibly, Shaun Pollock captured 6 for 35 for the Proteas in the same match!
South Africa has played in 11 of the 13 one-day internationals played at Buffalo Park, winning seven of those games. The side batting first has managed victory in only 38.5% of the 13 contests staged!
Two category B World Cup games take place at Buffalo Park, including one featuring hosts South Africa against Canada. The ground will also host a Super Sixes contest.
The Wanderers, Johannesburg
To be precise, The Wanderers is in fact The New Wanderers. The Old Wanderers first hosted Test cricket in 1896, when South Africa faced England and George Lohmann claimed 9 for 28 in South Africa's first innings to help the English to a convincing innings victory.
The New Wanderers, on the other hand, first hosted
Test cricket in December 1956, and its first one-day international, between South Africa and India, in December 1992.
Up until April 2002, The New Wanderers had hosted 17 one-day internationals. South Africa played in 15 of those matches, winning 12 of them. Included in those 15 games are four against Australia, with each teams winning twice. Teams batting second have won almost 60% of the matches played at the ground.
The stadium, which will host the World Cup final on Sunday, 23 March 2003, is known as “the Bullring” for its electric, sometimes intimidating atmosphere. Stadiums surround most of the field, although there is a small grassed area that is very popular with spectators. The Wanderers seats about 27 000 people and boasts 171 corporate suites.
Besides hosting the World Cup final, a Super Sixes match, two category A matches and a category C game will take place at the Wanderers.
De Beers Diamond Oval, Kimberley
The
De Beers Diamond Oval hosted its first one-day international in April 1998 when Pakistan chased down a Sri Lankan total of 295 to record a four-wicket victory. By the beginning of 2002 the ground had hosted four one-day internationals.
Most matches have produced free scoring, although England’s Mark Ealham excelled against Zimbabwe in January 2000 when he captured 5 for 15 off his 10 overs.
The side batting second has won on every occasion at the Kimberley ground. South Africa have played twice there and won both times.
The ground itself is quite small and has large areas of grassed embankments. It will play host to three category B matches: Pakistan against Namibia, New Zealand against Bangladesh, and the West Indies against Kenya. It’s worth remembering that in the 1996 World Cup the Kenyans thrashed the West Indies by 73 runs after bowling the islanders out for just 93!
Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg
The
Pietermaritzburg Oval, a picturesque ground with a touch of old-world charm about it, will be used for the first time for one-day internationals during the 2003 World Cup. Sri Lanka takes on Bangladesh on Valentine’s Day, 14 February, while India faces Namibia on 23 February.
Although it hasn’t hosted a full one-day international yet, the Oval has often, in recent times, been used for matches between touring sides and South Africa A.
Bangladesh will hope that their second visit to the ground will be more successful than their first, in October 2000. On that occasion, facing a South African Invitation XI, they were bundled out for 51 in just 18.3 overs as Charl Langeveldt knocked over 5 for 7 in four overs. The South Africans went on to win by 10 wickets.
India previously played in Pietermaritzburg in January 1997 and were in trouble against South Africa A before the game was rained out. Sri Lanka faced Kwazulu-Natal at the ground in December 2000 in a match in which
rain had the final say.
2003 World Cup fever will provide a wake-up call for the town fondly referred to as “Sleepy Hollow”.
St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth
Actually The Crusaders Ground, St George’s Park, but commonly known as St George’s Park, the ground first hosted a Test match in March 1889 - the first ground to host a Test in South Africa.
R35-million was budgeted for improvements to grounds for the 2003 World Cup, of which R11-million was allocated to St George’s Park. The ground boasts excellent stands as well as grassed embankments.
St George’s Park had hosted 15 one-day internationals by May 2002. The Proteas have played 13 one-day internationals at the ground, winning nine of those matches.
Results have been very even for sides no matter whether they have batted first or second. The team batting first has triumphed in nearly 47%, or seven out of 15 matches.
One of the most remarkable results
achieved at St George’s Park occurred in October 2001 when lightly regarded Kenya handed India a 70-run thrashing, prompting anti-corruption investigators to look into the match. It was ultimately declared a fair contest.
St George’s Park will stage one of the two semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup. In addition, a Super Sixes match, two category A games, including England against Australia, and a categoryB match will take place at the ground.
North West Stadium, Potchefstroom
The North West Stadium, home to the North West Dragons provincial team, is very new to the world of international one-day cricket, having first been used in October 2000 for a match between South Africa and New Zealand. That match was rained out.
The only other international that North West Stadium had hosted by April 2002 was the third one-day game between South Africa and Australia in 2002. It was quite a game. Batting first, the Proteas rattled up 259 for 7
in their 50 overs, thanks mainly to 71 from Jacques Kallis and 83 from Jonty Rhodes. Australia, in reply, sneaked a tension-filled tie, ending the match on 259 for 9 after being reduced to 223 for 9 in the forty-sixth over.
In the 2003 World Cup the ground, which has earned a good reputation for its limited-overs wickets, will host three matches, two of those including pre-tournament favourites Australia, who will call Potchefstroom their home base for the tournament. South Africa will also be in action in Potchefstroom when they take on Kenya on February 12.
Boland Bank Park, Paarl
Boland Bank Park’s introduction to one-day international cricket was a memorable one. Zimbabwe and India met at the ground on 27 January 1997, with the match, ending in a dramatic tie.
By the beginning of 2002, Boland Bank Park had hosted a further three limited-overs internationals, only one of which had included South Africa, who defeated Sri Lanka by
eight wickets in January 2001.
Besides the tied match between Zimbabwe and India, the games played in Paarl have resulted in big wins, with India thrashing Kenya by 186 runs in 2001 and Pakistan handing Sri Lanka a 110-run trouncing in 1998.
India’s victory over Kenya was remarkable when taken the in context of the triangular series in which the teams were competing. The Indians rattled up a mammoth 351 for 3 in their 50 overs, led by 111 from Saurav Ganguly and 146 from Sachin Tendulkar, who put on 258 for the first wicket. A week before that match, Kenya had humbled the Indians by 70 runs at St George’s Park after bowling the Asian side out for just 176.
Boland Bank Park hosts three matches in the 2003 World Cup, including two games featuring The Netherlands, who will make their home base in Paarl. The three Asian big guns - India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – will all play at the ground.
The ground is surrounded by beautiful mountains and trees and offers
spectators lovely grassed embankments to relax on while taking in a match.
Nairobi Gymkhana Club, Nairobi, Kenya
The Nairobi Gymkhana Club ground is no stranger to one-day international cricket. By the beginning of 2002, 29 limited-overs internationals had been played there - more than at any South African ground that will be used in the 2003 World Cup.
The first one-day international at the ground was played as recently as September 1996, but it has hosted a number of tournaments, including the ICC Knockout Cup – sometimes referred to as the mini World Cup – in 2000.
Matches at the Gymkhana Club have produced very even results. The team batting first has won just over half the matches, 15 out of 29 contests.
Two matches will be played at the ground: on 21 February Kenya takes on New Zealand, and on 24 February the Kenyans face Sri Lanka. Tickets for those games are the cheapest for category B matches for the entire World
Cup.
Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe
The Harare Sports Club will host three of Zimbabwe’s Pool A contests during the World Cup. A small ground, with a capacity of about 10 000 that can be increased by putting in temporary stands, the Sports Club boasts a beautiful Dutch Gable pavilion.
In October 1992 the ground hosted a one-day international for the first time when Zimbabwe faced India. The first Test match at the ground was played in the same month. In that game, John Traicos, having played for South Africa in 1970, created a new record by playing Test match cricket after an interval of 22 years.
By the beginning of 2002, 36 one-day internationals had been played at the Harare Sports Club - more than at any other ground that will be used in the 2003 World Cup.
Contests have been very even between teams batting first and second. The side batting first has won on 17 occasions, the side batting second has won 18 times,
and one match has ended in a tie - that was in February 1995, when Pakistan’s Wasim Akram was caught on the second-last ball of his country’s innings with the scores level on 219.
Two of Zimbabwe’s three matches at the ground will be against category A opponents, England and India, while the third will be against Namibia, a traditional rival of the Zimbabweans in many different sports.
Queen’s Sports Club Ground, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
The Queen’s Sports Club Ground was first used for a one-day international in December 1996 when Zimbabwe inflicted a two-wicket defeat on England for their third win against the English in four matches. It became a Test ground some time before that, hosting Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe in October 1994, a match in which Dave Houghton scored a mammoth 266.
By the beginning of 2002, 19 one-day internationals had been played at the Queen’s Sports Club, including one on 1 October 1997 that ended in a tie
between Zimbabwe and New Zealand. The ground has favoured the team batting second with just short of 64% of victories.
Zimbabwe plays Australia, the Netherlands and Pakistan in Bulawayo during the 2003 World Cup, and they’ll be hoping for better results at the ground than they've had in recent times. By April 2002, the Zimbabweans had lost their last six contests at the ground, last winning a one-day international there on 11 April 2001 when they beat Bangladesh by 36 runs.
South Africa achieved its highest total in one-day internationals at the ground when they tallied 363 for 3 in September 2001 and went on to a 153-run win over Zimbabwe.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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