Last Updated on 17 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
The low crowd for the opening day of the South Africa-Australia Test series was immediately thrust into the spotlight. Attendances didn’t improve a whole lot over the weekend, with empty stands and grass banks a damning visual via SuperSport’s drone camera.
In addition, light has been an issue. Conditions change drastically at around 3pm local time, with clouds quickly coming over Kingsmead. There were 65.2 overs on day one followed by 80.2 on day two, courtesy of extended morning and afternoon sessions.
“Kingsmead has lost more Test cricket to weather than any ground in the country for the last 20 years,” wrote Daryll Cullinan for Cricinfo last month. “In October the floodlights will definitely go on, bringing what floodlights always bring: poorer cricket and unhappy batters.”
Low crowds, bad light: Should Durban continue to host Test matches in the future?
Fans, and even former Proteas spinner Paul Harris, have called for Cricket South Africa (CSA) to reconsider scheduling Test matches in Durban. During the second day’s play, Mark Nicholas on commentary spoke of Test cricket’s problem in Durban – a ground where attendances have historically been on the lower end.
However, other fans have pointed to the anti-immigration riots in Durban as a key factor for low crowds across the Test. Cars and homes have been torcherd, and shops looted.
Here are some the reactions to proceedings in Durban.
At the time of writing, the Proteas are in trouble at 220/8 in their first innings, still 170 behind Australia’s 390. Matt Renshaw led the way for the visitors with a superb 190.
