Panoramic view of the Kingsmead |
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| Ground information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Durban, South Africa |
| Capacity | 25,000 |
| Tenants | KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins |
| End names | |
| Umgeni End Old Fort End |
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| International information | |
| First Test | January 1923: South Africa v England |
| Last Test | 26 December 2010: South Africa v India |
| First ODI | 17 December 1992: South Africa v India |
| Last ODI | 12 January 2011: South Africa v India |
| Domestic team information | |
| KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins (2003-present) | |
| As of 12 January 2011 Source: Cricinfo |
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Kingsmead is a cricket ground in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It operates under the sponsorship-based name of Sahara Stadium Kingsmead where Sahara is the trademark of a sponsor from the IT industry. Its stated capacity is 25,000,[1] although grass terracing makes up part of the viewing area. The 'end names' are the Umgeni End (north) and the Old Fort Road End (south). It is the home ground of the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins.
When a Test series is played in South Africa, the ground usually hosts the Boxing Day Test.
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The venue hosted the first home Test for the South African cricket team after re-admission into international cricket and also hosted the Test against the English cricket team in 1939, which lasted from the third to the thirteenth of March and was called off over fears that the English would miss their ship home.
The first Test match to be played here was between South Africa and England on January 18, 1923, which resulted in a draw.
It has been renowned as a seamers wicket, and there is also a famous myth regarding how the tide affects batting conditions, as the ground is quite close to the beach. Many batting collapses in matches in the past have jokingly been blamed on changes in the tide.
Kingsmead's easterly location - but within the same timezone as the rest of South Africa - means it is prone to bad light and the humid climate can result in powerful thunderstorms. The ground incorporates traditional grass banks, as well as towering modern stands. Being in the centre of Durban makes it accessible by public transport, or on foot, but parking is limited.
It is the stadium used every other year for the finish of the Comrades Marathon, an ultramarathon run annually between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Because the run alternates directions each year, it only finishes in Durban in odd-numbered years.