Pakistan Test match a festive season present for SuperSport Park
TITANS’ chief executive Jacques Faul said his union is looking forward to trying to make a success of the Boxing Day Test, which SuperSport Park will host for the first time in its history later this year.
“It’s a privilege to host any Test, but we are really looking forward to making this work,” Faul said after Cricket SA released another jam-packed home fixture list for the Proteas.
South Africa will face Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at home during the 2018-19 season over the course of five Tests, 13 ODI’s and nine T20 International matches.
But while the “Boxing Day Test” is an institution in Australia where first day crowds at the Melbourne Cricket Ground of 90 000 people are the norm, Cricket SA’s attempts to do something similar at Kingsmead and St George’s Park have failed dismally, hence the move up to Centurion.
The traditional holiday crowds that help make the New Year’s Test at Newlands one of the highlights on the South African sporting calendar have not been replicated at the Durban and Port Elizabeth venues.
“It’s a difficult one to put your finger on,” Faul offered by way of explaining the poor crowds for the Boxing Day Test. “Obviously the opposition is one, but some of the reasons that may exist for people not going to the game – like they have other things to do on their holiday – doesn’t explain why Newlands is such a success, because people make going to the (New Year’s Test) part of their holiday.”
There are aspects Faul touched on, which he hopes will benefit his union when SuperSport Park hosts the first Test against Pakistan from December 26 this year.
“We’re happy it’s Pakistan because for us they are a very popular team. And then there’s the changing patterns for people going on holiday, many are leaving for the coast a bit later in December, which may help us.”
The match starts on a Wednesday and encompasses the weekend as well, which Faul hopes will help ticket sales.
“We’ve always had very good crowds for Tests when the games have gone over the weekend, sell outs or close to sell outs, and with the first day on a public holiday, that could give us three days (of big crowds). I believe our loyal support base, will support the game,” he said.
After CSA trialled a maiden pink-ball day/night Test, starting on Boxing Day in Port Elizabeth last year, there is nothing on the schedule next summer, something Faul says is purely down to economics, with turning on the lights costing somewhere in the region of R250 000 a day.
“It was discussed, but not heavily, mainly because it’s so expensive,” said Faul. “If you don’t have full houses for every day of the Test, it’s just not financially worthwhile.”
The Boxing Day Test will be the first of a three-match series against Pakistan, with the second and third Tests played in Cape Town and Johannesburg respectively. The traditional New Year’s Newlands Test – the second Test – has been moved back to start on January 3 after a later start than usual this past year due to India’s late arrival in the country.
Safraz Ahmed’s team will also play a five-match ODI series and three-match T20 series against the Proteas. The ODI series against the current ICC Champions Trophy holders will be particularly important preparation for the ICC World Cup in England later in 2019.
Prior to the Asian giants’ visit, neighbours Zimbabwe will also face-off against the Proteas in three ODI’s and three T20’s during September and October to kickoff the summer.
The season concludes with Sri Lanka also touring South Africa for another full tour. The Sri Lankans will play two Test matches at Kingsmead and St. George’s Park to be followed by five ODIs and three T20 International matches.
ZIMBABWE TOUR ITINERARY 2018
September 30: 1st ODI, Diamond Oval, Kimberley (Day) 10am October 3: 2nd ODI, Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein (D/N) 1pm October 6: 3rd ODI, Boland Park, Paarl (D/N) 1pm October 9: 1st T20 Int, Buffalo Park, East London (D/N) (6pm) October 12: 2nd T20 International, Senwes Park, Potchefstroom (D/N) (6pm) October 14: 3rd T20 Int, Willowmoore Park, Benoni (Day) (2:30pm)
PAKISTAN TOUR ITINERARY 2018/19
December 19-21: Three-day tour match v SA Invitation XI, Willowmoore Park (10am) December 26-30: 1st Test match, SuperSport Park (10am) January 3-7: 2nd Test match, Newlands (10:30am) January 11-15: 3rd Test match, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (10am) January 19: 1st ODI, St. George’s Park, Port Elizabeth (D/N) (1pm) January 22: 2nd ODI, Kingsmead, Durban (D/N) (1pm) January 25: 3rd ODI, SuperSport Park (D/N) (1pm) January 27: 4th ODI, Wanderers Stadium (Day) (10am) January 30: 5th ODI, Newlands (D/N) (1pm) February 1: 1st T20 International, Newlands (D/N) (6pm) February 3: 2nd T20 International, Wanderers Stadium (Day) (2:30pm) February 6: 3rd T20 International, SuperSport Park (D/N) (6pm)