Wanderers Stadium Explained

Groukptnd Name:Wanderers Stadium
Nickname:The Bullring
Country:South Africa
Location:Illovo, Sandton, Johannesburg
Seating Capacity:34,000[1]
Coordinates:-26.1311°N 28.0575°W
End1:Corlett Drive End
End2:Golf Course End
International:true
Firsttestdate:24–29 December
Firsttestyear:1956
Firsttesthome:South Africa
Firsttesthomevar:1928
Firsttestaway:England
Lasttestdate:8–11 March
Lasttestyear:2023
Lasttesthome:South Africa
Lasttestaway:West Indies
Firstodidate:13 December
Firstodiyear:1992
Firstodihome:South Africa
Firstodihomevar:1928
Firstodiaway:India
Lastodidate:17 December
Lastodiyear:2023
Lastodihome:South Africa
Lastodiaway:India
Firstt20idate:21 October
Firstt20iyear:2005
Firstt20ihome:South Africa
Firstt20iaway:New Zealand
Lastt20idate:14 December
Lastt20iyear:2023
Lastt20ihome:South Africa
Lastt20iaway:India
Firstwtestdate:17–21 December
Firstwtestyear:1960
Firstwtesthome:South Africa
Firstwtesthomevar:1928
Firstwtestaway:England
Lastwtestdate:24–27 March
Lastwtestyear:1972
Lastwtesthome:South Africa
Lastwtesthomevar:1928
Lastwtestaway:New Zealand
Firstwodidate:22 September
Firstwodiyear:2013
Firstwodihome:South Africa
Firstwodiaway:Bangladesh
Lastwodidate:6 February
Lastwodiyear:2022
Lastwodihome:South Africa
Lastwodiaway:West Indies
Firstwt20idate:21 February
Firstwt20iyear:2016
Firstwt20ihome:South Africa
Firstwt20iaway:England
Lastwt20idate:3 February
Lastwt20iyear:2019
Lastwt20ihome:South Africa
Lastwt20iaway:Sri Lanka
Year1:1956 – present
Club1:Transvaal
now known as Highveld Lions
Year2:2018-2019
Club2:Jozi Stars
Year3:2023-present
Club3:Joburg Super Kings
Date:17 December
Year:2023
Source:http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/59120.html Cricinfo

The Wanderers Stadium, also known as the Bullring due to its intimidating atmosphere, is a cricket stadium situated just south of Sandton in Illovo, Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa. Test, One Day and First class cricket matches are played here. It is the home ground for the Imperial Lions and the Joburg Super Kings.

History

The stadium has a seating capacity of 34,000, and was built in 1956 to replace the Old Wanderers Stadium. It was completely overhauled following South Africa's readmission to international cricket in 1991. In 1996, five new 65adj=midNaNadj=mid floodlight masts replaced the existing four 30adj=midNaNadj=mid masts, enabling day-night limited-overs cricket. It is nicknamed 'The Bullring' due to its design and intimidating atmosphere.

On 1 October 2004, the Wanderers Clubhouse was virtually destroyed by fire.[2]

Events

Wanderers Stadium hosted a rugby union test match in April 1980 between South Africa and the South American Jaguars while Johannesburg's normal venue, Ellis Park Stadium, was being redeveloped.[3]

On 12 March 2006, this stadium hosted one of the greatest One-day international matches ever played between South Africa and Australia in which a world record score of 434 was chased down by South Africa.

The stadium hosted the 2009 Indian Premier League's second semi-final and the final in which the Deccan Chargers beat the Royal Challengers Bangalore to grab the championship title. It also hosted the final of Champion League Twenty20 in the 2010 and 2012 edition.

The 2003 Cricket World Cup and 2007 T20 World Cup finals were held at the Wanderers Stadium.

On 18 January 2015, the Wanderers stadium saw South Africa's AB de Villiers break the 19-year-old record for fastest ODI half-century, previously held by Sri Lankan maestro Sanath Jayasuriya, by making 50 off 16 balls against the West Indies. In the same match, he also broke Corey Anderson's fastest ODI century record (held for one year and seven days) by making 100 off 31 deliveries. He finished on 149, caught on the boundary in the final over, scored off 44 balls with a strike rate of 338.63.[4]

On 21 February 2016, AB de Villiers scored the fastest 50 (21 balls) for South Africa in a T20I against England.[5]

In July 2018, the stadium hosted former US President, Barack Obama at the Nelson Mandela Lecture.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.wanderers.co.za/about.html www.wanderers.co.za
  2. Web site: A blaze destroys Wanderers Cricket Club South African History Online . www.sahistory.org.za . 1 April 2024.
  3. Book: Test Match Grounds of the World . 1990 . Willow Books . 0002182823 . Michael Owen-Smith . Tim Jolland . 186.
  4. Web site: South Africa vs West Indies 2nd ODI 2015. ESPNcricinfo. 18 January 2015.
  5. Web site: Dominant SA cruise to nine-wicket win. 21 February 2016. ESPNcricinfo. 21 February 2016.
  6. Web site: Barack Obama delivers Mandela centenary address in Joburg . 17 July 2018 . News24 . 17 July 2018.