Kingsmead Cricket Ground

Kingsmead is a cricket ground in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 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 Hollywoodbets Dolphins.

Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium

Kingsmead
Panoramic view of the Kingsmead
Ground information
Location	Durban, South Africa
Coordinates	29°51′0″S 31°1′40″E
Capacity	25,000
Tenants	Hollywoodbets Dolphins
End names
Umgeni End Old Fort End
International information
First Test	18–22 January 1923:  South Africa v  England
Last Test	27–30 November 2024:  South Africa v  Sri Lanka
First ODI	17 December 1992:  South Africa v  India
Last ODI	7 February 2020:  South Africa v  England
First T20I	12 September 2007:  Kenya v  New Zealand
Last T20I	10 December 2024:  South Africa v  Pakistan
First women's Test	31 December 1960–3 January 1961:  South Africa v  England
Last women's Test	10–13 March 1972:  South Africa v  New Zealand
First WODI	20 January 2021:  South Africa v  Pakistan
Last WODI	1 October 2023:  South Africa v  New Zealand
First WT20I	4 March 2016:  South Africa v  West Indies
Last WT20I	3 February 2021:  South Africa v  Pakistan
Team information
Hollywoodbets Dolphins (1923–present) Durban Heat (2018-2019) Durban's Super Giants (2023-present)
As of 1 December 2024 Source: ESPNCricinfo

In October 2019, Hollywoodbets was announced as the naming rights sponsor to the ground, with it now being known as Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium until August 2024.^[2]

Cricket

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 18 January 1923, which resulted in a draw on the 5th day

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.^{[citation needed]}

On 19 September 2007 the ground witnessed Yuvraj Singh's iconic six consecutive sixes off Stuart Broad's over in the World Twenty20 match between India and England, to mark the fastest fifty ever in any form of cricket.^[3]

A panoramic view of the Kingsmead during South Africa vs Australia in 2009

See also

• List of Test cricket grounds
• List of international cricket five-wicket hauls at Kingsmead

References

1. Stadiums in South Africa Archived 2019-07-21 at the Wayback Machine. World Stadiums. Retrieved on 2013-12-23.
2. Mercury Reporter (8 October 2019). "Hollywoodbets takes on stadium naming rights". The Mercury.
3. Cricinfo. Retrieved on 28 April 2016