The Joys of Centurion

GUEST COLUMN - By Jonathan Knowles

Jonathan Knowles is a cricket-mad South African living in London, one of the longest supporters of Manners-on-Cricket and amongst the first paid subscribers. His coverage of the Proteas 2-0 Test series win in Bangladesh three months ago was conspicuously enjoyed by many readers. Jonathan was at Supersport Park (for the first time!) to witness SA’s qualification for the WTC Final. Enjoy.

*Of the 44 venues (in 10 different countries) at which I've watched international cricket, I have to say that SuperSport Park in Centurion near Pretoria has to be the most pleasant!

The memorable experience begins when you approach the ground in your car, and wardens are directing you to one of the many car parks within close proximity of the ground's 4 main gates. R100 ($5.50) to park the car for the day, and after a short walk, you're at the ticket office. The ticket purchase process is quick (it's another R100 to sit on the grass), and you're then greeted by smiling officials who do a very quick check of the bag you're carrying. Unlike in India, you are allowed to take a bag in with you; and unlike in England, the bag search isn't intrusive. Tickets are then scanned and you're inside the ground.

What I love about SuperSport Park are the grass banks which welcome you and encircle three-quarters of the playing field. The banks are of varying height and gradient, so it's easy to find the perfect spot which will suit you. You can sit high up for a more "bird's eye view", or in an area where the gradient is relatively flat, or you could sit at the front on a similar level to the field. No matter where sit, however, you will always get a fantastic view of the field of play! And also no matter where you sit, you can see the scoreboard and tv replay screen, which isn't the case in so many grounds around the world.

Some people (like me) just sit on the grass. Other people sit on blankets, and others bring in their camping chairs on which to sit. There are even designated gazebo areas where people are allowed to set up their own gazebos to sit underneath!

There are also designated Weber braai/bbq areas, where fires are lit inside Weber braais/bbqs ready for people to use (for free) to cook their own meat for lunch. How amazing to be able to have a braai at a test match with your mates; nowhere else in the world can you do that! No braai is complete of course without a few Castle Lagers; and there is no shortage of bars around the ground. The bars have names such as "Fine Leg Bar", "Cow Corner Bar", "Third Man Bar" and "Deep Extra Cover Bar". The bars are well-staffed, there are no long queues, and the beers cost R45 ($2.50) each.

If you weren't organised enough to bring your own meat to braai, you can buy food from one of the many food outlets. The outlets are located behind the grass bank near the scoreboard under the trees, and behind the pretty corporate chalets on the western side of the ground. Established recognisable South African chains such as Steers, Debonairs and Mugg & Bean are present. Ice cream and cold drink vendors make their way through the crowds during the day.

The crowds are good and the atmosphere on the grass banks is fantastic. It's lovely seeing families or all races sitting together, having a day out in the sun, supporting our national team. It's also lovely seeing so many young children at the ground (something which you don't see in England); after all, they are the future of our sport! The children are either sitting watching the match with their parents, or they've found some friends for the day with whom to play a bit of cricket. And as soon as one of the boundary fielders obliges to an autograph request, children from all around the ground run along the grass with their mini bats in the hope that they will be the next lucky recipient of a famous autograph!

The Northerns Cricket Union's great marketing of the Boxing Day test has obviously assisted in ensuring that those crowds come. During the breaks of play, I was pleased to hear the public address announcer advertising the domestic 50 over competition which runs for a month from 15 February... only if people know about it will they come! At three different areas within the ground, the Northerns Cricket Union has "Walls of Fame", where domestic competition successes are displayed and celebrated, along with local player tributes and achievements. It's good to see.

As for the actual cricket which I watched, I was only there for days 2 and 3, and there was rain on the morning of the third day. That didn't detract from the fantastic cricket which I did see though... Aiden Markram's first innings 89, Corbin Bosch's debut 81* (the highest score ever by a number 9 on debut), Saud Shakheel's fighting 84 and Marco Jansen's 6/52.

As play finished yesterday with SA on 27/3, another thing I noticed was that we weren't being chased out of the ground. People are allowed to finish their drinks and almost leave when they are ready to. I was grateful to be able to have one more walk around the magnificent SuperSport Park, being thankful that I was able to attend, but also feeling sad in that I don't know when next I'll be there...