Reflecting on five days of World-class cricket: An open letter from KZN Cricket's CEO

To our valued supporters,

Test cricket remains one of the greatest traditions of our beautiful game and the recent Test match between the Proteas and Australia at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium was a reminder of everything that makes the longest format so special.

Durban delivered on every front. The weather was exceptional, the pitch provided a fantastic contest between bat and ball and the match extended into the post-lunch session on day five, offering five days of compelling cricket between two of the world’s leading Test nations. It was a fitting showcase for the quality, drama and endurance that make Test cricket unique.

Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, with its proud history spanning more than 103 years, was also able to showcase the upgrades made since Australia’s previous Test visit in 2018. These improvements, together with the hospitality offerings available throughout the match, were aimed at ensuring a world-class experience for players, match officials, media, corporate guests and spectators alike.

As the CEO of the KZN Cricket Union, I am proud of what was delivered on and off the field. However, it is impossible to overlook our disappointment that just under 20 000 fans attended across the five days.

A Test match of this quality, featuring the Proteas and Australia, deserved greater support in the stands. While we recognise that supporters face competing demands on their time and finances, we must also understand better what influences their decisions to attend and what more we can do to make live cricket an attractive and worthwhile experience.

This is something we will reflect on as a Union, through a thorough internal review, and as a cricket community. We need to listen to our supporters, reconnect with our communities, and continue to find ways to make Test cricket more accessible, engaging and appealing to families and cricket lovers of all ages.

Test cricket is part of our sporting heritage, and its future depends on all of us. We remain committed to delivering outstanding cricket at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium and to ensuring that future generations can experience the atmosphere, excitement, and magic of the game live.

Thank you to everyone who supported the match, and to all those who worked tirelessly to deliver a memorable five days of Test cricket in Durban.

All are welcome to share feedback to dolphinscricket@cricket.co.za.

Proteas Men’s Squad - Second Dafabet Test against Australia

Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), Marques Ackerman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), David Bedingham (YesPlay Cobras), Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors), Corbin Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Gerald Coetzee (DP World Lions), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Senuran Muthusamy (Dafabet Warriors), Anrich Nortje (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Dane Paterson (YesPlay Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions) and Kyle Verreynne (YesPlay Cobras).

Fixtures

First Test - South Africa lost to Australia by 214 runs @ Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban

Second Test - Sunday, 18 - Thursday, 22 October at 10am @ Dafabet St George’s Park, Gqeberha

Third Test - Tuesday, 27 - Saturday, 31 October at 10.30am @ YesPlay Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town