Cricket One Day Internationals (ODIs) were on TV just recently – South Africa vs. Australia. Australia won the first two matches quite easily. The third? Oh-oh, won by South Africa by an easy 111 runs. The fourth? Disaster – South Africa won by 164 after posting an impressively high ODI score of 5/416. The 5^th game – the decider. Hello! That stadium looks familiar!

Time to get out the photo scrapbook and journal from our 2018 trip to South Africa. Yes, there it is; the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Naming rights at that time were with the Bidvest Group.

As part of our personal trip to South Africa (not part of a tour group this time), we had a brief stay in Johannesburg. We went to only one day of the cricket (the second day of the 4th test match), sandwiched in between amazing safari holidays in Moditlo River Lodge, near Kruger National Park, and Thebe River Safaris, Botswana (see Ouch on Safari and Breakfast).

Our hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, was not far from the cricket ground. We strolled over to Nelson Mandela Square for a couple of photos before grabbing an Uber to the Stadium. Nelson Mandela Square was quiet, just prior to shop-opening time.

The Uber wasn’t permitted to drive up the street adjacent to the entrance, so we had a short walk to the gates. This was the test venue immediately following the regrettable “sandpaper test” in Cape Town. As we walked into the stadium, we were somewhat unsure of the wisdom of flying the Aussie flag too prominently. However, we displayed the flag with pride, despite the undercurrent of negativity around the Australian team at that time.

Enjoyed our very good seats in line with the pitch. Mostly South African flags around, but also some fellow Australian supporters. Some of the folk from our usual tour group were sitting just around from us, so a chance to catch up for a chat.

The highlight of the visit to this venue was the opportunity to walk on the oval. What? Surely not. Yes, at the lunch break, spectators were allowed onto the oval – not on to the roped off pitch area, but on about a third of the outer area. We decided we may as well join them. Can’t imagine being able to do this during a match at the Adelaide Oval!

Amazed that this would be allowed!

Back in the stand, food and drink vendors whistled for your attention. It seemed the bar beer custom here was to buy three beers each at once! Radio commentary about onion cutting techniques – all due to a commentator mentioning the sponsor Sunfoil (Sunflower Oil). Turned into an amusing cooking segment!

Left just after 4pm, when Australia’s 1^st innings was at 3/51, following South Africa all out for 488. A large deficit on the scoreboard – a bit depressing really – over 400! A seemingly impossible task to win from there. End of the day score was 6/110 – a bit of a collapse.

Headed back to Sandton, trying out the local tuk-tuks from outside the stadium. Dearer than an Uber, but cheaper than a taxi, and convenient, as we didn’t need to walk along the closed road. Popped into Sandton City Mall, and then back to the hotel to pack ready to travel to Botswana the next day.

In the end, South Africa won the test by a crushing 492 runs, resulting in a 3-1 series win. Back to now in 2023, South Africa, alas, also won the 5^th ODI, capturing this series 3-2. Feeling a bit defeated by cricket in Johannesburg … but perhaps we can get our revenge when we next meet on 12 October in the ODI World Cup in India!