SA20 is set to launch in early 2023, as the newest franchise league in T20 cricket. The competition will see some of the best white-ball cricketers feature in South Africa in the opening two months of the calendar.
After the success of the Big Bash in Australia, IPL and The Hundred, those involved in SA20 will be hoping their league can have its place on the T20 calendar as competition fans and players alike enjoy.
Here is a look at the world-class stadiums which will be used in South Africa for the competition, many of which are historical and date back to the 19th century.
Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg)
The Wanderers Stadium has been holding international cricket since 1956. The current South Africa team plays Test, ODI, and T20I matches at the venue, which is known as ‘The Bullring’ due to its unique atmosphere. Like the impressive Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia, this is one of the biggest cricket grounds in the world.
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(@WanderersZA) July 7, 2022 The Joburg Super Kings will play their home matches at the Wanderers Stadium. Their first game at the ground will come against Pretoria Capitals on January 17. SA20 organizers have also chosen this stadium to host the final in February, so should the Super Kings get there, they will be playing in familiar surroundings.
Having held so much international cricket over the years, it is no surprise that the Wanderers Stadium has seen many records broken in the sport. The 2003 Cricket World Cup final, which was won by Australia, as reported by the BBC following the tournament, was held here. It also was the venue at which South Africa chased a world record 434 to beat Australia in an ODI in 2006.
Kingsmead Cricket Ground (Durban)
As of the 23rd of December, Durban’s Super Giants are the 7/2 joint favourites in the outright betting with Betway for the SA20 Trophy. They will play their home matches at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground, and they will be hoping their supporters can help cheer them to success.
This stadium can house up to 25,000 spectators and it is home to the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins. Some cricket fans may remember India’s Yuvraj Singh hitting six sixes here off the bowling of Stuart Broad against England at the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup event.
Fast bowlers tend to do well on this wicket in Durban, so the likes of Jason Holder, Reece Topley, and Dilshan Madushanka will all be looking forward to bowling on it for the hosts.
Newlands Cricket Ground
MI Cape Town will play their home matches during SA20 at Newlands Cricket Ground. The stadium holds 25,000 fans, and it is another venue that is familiar with hosting international matches.
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Cape Town (@MICapeTown) November 22, 2022With views of Devil’s Peak and Table Mountain from your seat, it is a cricket ground that many fans around the world have on their bucket lists to visit at least once. It is next door to Newlands Stadium, which is known for hosting Super Rugby matches.
The Cape Town venue hosted its first Test match back in 1898 when South Africa welcomed England to the stadium. With SA20 cricket on its way in 2023, it feels like a new chapter is coming to the historic sports ground.
Centurion Park
Centurion’s 22,000-capacity stadium is a ground the South African team has had a lot of success at in recent years. Traditionally, this is the venue used when there is a Boxing Day Test in the country. It will now be used by Pretoria Capitals at SA20.