The SuperSport Park is one of the iconic cricket stadiums located in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa. 

Originally named as Centurion Park, the SuperSport Park has a seating capacity of 22,000 and also features Beach Cabana type hospitality chalets on the grass banks. It has a beautiful outfield with one of the best drainage facilities.

Considered to be one of the cricket grounds with the best players' facilities in the world, the SuperSport Park staged its first One-Day International (ODI) between hosts South Africa and India in December 1992. India won the match by four wickets.

The SuperSport Park later hosted its first Test match played between South Africa and England in November 1995. The match ended in a draw.

Later in 2009, it staged its first T20 international match that featured hosts South Africa and Australia. Under the leadership of Johan Botha, South Africa won the game by 17 runs.

The SuperSport Park is the home ground of the South African cricket team, Titans cricket team and SA20’s Pretoria Capitals.

It was also one of the venues that hosted ICC World Cup 2003 and ICC Champions Trophy 2009. It also staged the Indian T20 League in 2009.

Let’s have a look at SuperSport Park T20 records and stats:

SuperSport Park T20 records and stats

Highest total

The South Africa cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the SuperSport Park in T20 international cricket. During the second T20I of the West Indies tour of South Africa in March 2023, the Aiden Markram-led hosts recorded 259/4 while chasing West Indies�?258/5. Chasing 259, South Africa rode on Quinton de Kock’s 100, along with contributions from Reeza Hendricks (68) and Aiden Markram’s unbeaten 38 to successfully chase down the target in just 18.5 overs to register a six-wicket win in Centurion. Earlier, Johnson Charles�?118 helped West Indies post a mammoth total of 258/5 in their 20 overs. 

Lowest total

South Africa registered the lowest total at the SuperSport Park in T20 international cricket. Chasing 196, the hosts were bundled out for 100 in just 12.2 overs during the second T20I of Pakistan’s tour of South Africa in March 2013. AB de Villiers top-scored for South Africa with 36 while Rory Kleinveldt scored 22. For Pakistan, Umar Gul was the wrecker-in-chief with five wickets while Mohammad Hafeez bagged three wickets. Earlier, captain Mohammad Hafeez (86) and Ahmed Shehzad (46) powered Pakistan to 195/7 in their allotted overs. With the 95-run victory, Pakistan won the two-match T20I series 1-0 after the opening game was abandoned due to rain. 

Most runs

South Africa’s top order batter Rassie van der Dussen has scored the most runs at the SuperSport Park in the T20 international format. Between 2019 and 2021, Rassie van der Dussen amassed 202 runs in five matches at an average of 50.50 and a strike rate of 140.27. He has two T20I fifties at this venue. His teammate David Miller features second on the list with 200 runs in 10 T20Is at a strike rate of 147.05 while also maintaining an average of 25. 

Most wickets

Former South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris bagged the most wickets at the SuperSport Park in T20 international cricket. The former right-arm fast bowler picked up seven wickets in four T20Is at an average of 19.42 and an economy of 8.50 between 2013 and 2019. He registered best bowling figures of 3/32 on this ground in the T20I format. Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf is second on the list with six wickets in three T20Is at an average of 15.33 and an economy of 7.66.

Highest individual score

Pakistan talisman Babar Azam registered the highest individual score against South Africa at this ground in T20I cricket. Chasing 204 in April 2021, Babar Azam slammed 122 off just 59 balls to help Pakistan chase down the target in 18 overs and secure a nine-wicket win in the third T20I of a four-match series in Centurion. His magnificent knock was laced with 15 fours and four maximums. Earlier, South Africa posted 203/5 in their 20 overs. Pakistan later clinched the four-match T20I series 3-1.

Best bowling figures

Former Pakistan cricketer Umar Gul recorded the best bowling figures at the SuperSport Park in T20 international cricket. During the second T20I of Pakistan’s tour of South Africa in March 2013, Umar Gul registered match-winning figures of 2.2-0-6-5. Defending 195, the former right-arm pacer dismissed captain Faf du Plessis, Chris Morris, Justin Ontong, Farhaan Behardien and Kyle Abbott to bowl out South Africa for 100 in 12.2 overs and guide the visitors to a 95-run victory.

Highest partnership

Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam hold the record for the highest partnership at the SuperSport Park in T20 international cricket. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam forged a match-winning 197-run stand for the opening wicket against while chasing South Africa’s 203/5 in the third T20I of a four-match series. While Babar Azam hammered 122, Mohammad Rizwan remained unbeaten on 73 to help Pakistan register a nine-wicket win in Centurion.

Photo credit: Imago

The Riverside Ground is a cricket venue located in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, England.

Established in 1995, the Riverside Ground has a seating capacity of 5,000 for domestic games and 17,000 for international matches.

It is home to Durham County Cricket Club and has hosted several international matches.

The first noteworthy match played at the Riverside Ground was between Durham and the visiting New Zealanders in 1992. 

The Riverside Ground later staged its first international cricket match, a One-Day International (ODI) played between Pakistan and Scotland in the ICC Cricket World Cup in May 1999. Under the leadership of Wasim Akram, Pakistan won the match by 94 runs.

It also hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup 1999 game between Australia and Bangladesh.  

Since then, it has staged more than 20 One-Day Internationals so far. Let’s have a look at the Riverside Ground ODI records and stats:

Riverside Ground ODI records and stats

Highest total

The Sri Lanka national cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Riverside Ground in ODI cricket. During an ICC Cricket World Cup match in July 2019, Sri Lanka posted 338/6 in their 50 overs against West Indies in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. Put in to bat, Sri Lanka rode on Avishka Fernando’s 104, along with contributions from wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Perera (64), Lahiru Thirimanne (45 not out) and Kusal Mendis�?39 to post a record ODI total at the venue. In reply, West Indies scored 315/9 in their allotted overs as Sri Lanka won the ODI by 23 runs.

Lowest total

The England cricket team registered the lowest total at the Riverside Ground in ODI cricket. Chasing 257, the hosts were bundled out for 99 in 26.1 overs in the second ODI of Sri Lanka’s tour of England in May 2014. Captain Eoin Morgan top-scored for England with 40 while Ian Bell added 12. For Sri Lanka, right-arm off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake bagged four wickets while pacer Nuwan Kulasekara picked up three scalps. Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan (88), Ashan Priyanjan (43) and wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Sangakkara (40) powered Sri Lanka to 256/8 in their 50 overs. Sri Lanka won the second ODI by a massive 157 runs in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Most runs

England’s Jonny Bairstow has scored the most runs at the Riverside Ground in ODI format. Between 2015 and 2022, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter has amassed 374 runs in five ODIs at an average of 93.50 and an impressive strike rate of 117.98. The hard-hitting right-handed batter has slammed one century and three ODI fifties at this ground. His teammate Joe Root features second on the list with 220 runs in six matches at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 94.82.

Most wickets

England’s Graeme Swann and David Willey share the record for the most wickets at this ground in ODI cricket. Former England right-arm off-spinner Graeme Swann claimed nine wickets in just three ODIs at an average of 13.66 and an economy of 4.39. Left-arm fast bowler David Willey has also bagged nine wickets in three matches at an average of 15.22 and a strike rate of 18. Legendary England pacer James Anderson is second on the list with eight ODI wickets in seven games at an economy of 4.48.

Highest individual score

South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen holds the record for the highest individual score at this venue in the ODI format. Batting at number three, Rassie van der Dussen slammed 134 off 117 balls in the first ODI of South Africa’s tour of England in July 2022. His scintillating hundred was laced with 10 fours. Rassie van der Dussen’s magnificent ton helped South Africa post 333/5 in their 50 overs. England were later bowled out for 271 in 46.5 overs as the visitors won the game by 62 runs.

Best bowling figures

Former England cricketer Graeme Swann registered the best bowling figures at the Riverside Ground in ODI format. Graeme Swann recorded match-winning figures of 5/28 against arch-rivals Australia in September 2009. The right-arm off-spinner dismissed captain Ricky Ponting, Cameron White, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee to bowl out Australia for 176 in 45.5 overs. Joe Denly (53) and captain Andrew Strauss (47) helped England chase down the target in 40 overs. Despite England’s four-wicket win, Australia clinched the seven-match ODI series 6-1. 

Highest partnership

Former Zimbabwe cricketers Murray Goodwin and Grant Flower hold the record for the highest partnership at the Riverside Ground in ODI cricket. During a NatWest Series encounter in July 2000, Murray Goodwin and Grant Flower stitched an unbeaten 186-run stand for the fifth wicket to help Zimbabwe chase down West Indies�?287/5 in 49.1 overs. Chasing 288, Zimbabwe were reduced to 104/4 in 22.2 overs. Later, Murray Goodwin scored 112 not out while Grant Flower remained unbeaten on 96 to guide Zimbabwe to a six-wicket win in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

Photo credit: Imago

The West Indies vs South Africa T20 2024 cricket series will start in Kingston, Jamaica on Friday, May 24.

As per the West Indies vs South Africa T20 2024 schedule, all the three T20 internationals will be played at the Sabina Park in Kingston on May 24, 26 and 27 (as per Indian Standard Time).

Hosts West Indies and South Africa will use the upcoming three-match T20I series to prepare themselves for the marquee T20 World Cup 2024 to be held in the Caribbean and the United States starting on June 2.

Ranked sixth in the ICC men’s T20I team rankings, the West Indies cricket team has announced their 15-man squad to be led by Brandon King in the upcoming T20I series.

Meanwhile, the hosts will miss several of their first team players including full-time captain Rovman Powell, who is currently featuring in the Indian T20 League 2024 for Team Rajasthan.

Andre Russell (Team Kolkata), Shimron Hetmyer (Team Rajasthan), Alzarri Joseph (Team Bengaluru) and Sherfane Rutherford (Team Kolkata) are the other West Indies players who will skip the three-match T20I series due to their involvement in the knockouts of the ongoing Indian T20 League.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Pooran  and Shai Hope, who featured for Team Lucknow and Team Delhi respectively, have been rested.

Matthew Forde and Kyle Mayers, who were close to being selected for the T20 World Cup 2024, will feature against South Africa. 

On the other hand, the South Africa national cricket team has announced a second-string squad for the three-match T20I series in the Caribbean.

South Africa’s T20I captain Aiden Markram, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, and Keshav Maharaj are some of the senior players who won’t feature in the series.

In the absence of regular captain Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen has been named the skipper of the 15-member Proteas squad.

Currently ranked fourth in the ICC men’s T20I team rankings, South Africa have included the likes of Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Gerald Coetzee, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi in their squad for the T20I series in the Caribbean.

West Indies vs South Africa head-to-head in T20 cricket

South Africa have a superior head-to-head record against West Indies in T20 international cricket, winning 11 of the 19 matches that they have played so far. West Indies have registered eight victories so far.

The last time these two sides met, West Indies secured a 2-1 series win over the Proteas in a three-match T20I series in South Africa in March 2023.

Where to watch West Indies vs South Africa T20 2024 live in India

Live streaming of the West Indies vs South Africa T20 2024 series will be available on the FanCode app and website in India.

There will be no live telecast of the upcoming T20I series on any TV channel in India.

West Indies vs South Africa T20 2024 schedule and live match start times

All match times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Day and Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Friday, May 24	West Indies vs South Africa, 1st T20I	Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica	12:30 AM
Sunday, May 26	West Indies vs South Africa, 2nd T20I	Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica	12:30 AM
Monday, May 27	West Indies vs South Africa, 3rd T20I	Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica	12:30 AM

West Indies vs South Africa T20 2024 squads

West Indies T20 squad: Brandon King (captain), Roston Chase, Fabian Allen, Alick Athanaze, Johnson Charles (wicket-keeper), Andre Fletcher (wicket-keeper), Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Hayden Walsh Jr

South Africa T20 squad: Rassie van der Dussen (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Matthew Breetzke (wicket-keeper), Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton (wicket-keeper), Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Anrich Nortje

Photo credit: Alamy

South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen owns the record for the best batting average in ODI cricket.

The talismanic batter has maintained a batting of 74.95 in ODIs while aggregating 1,499 runs in 30 innings. In the process, van der Dussen has hit three centuries and 11 fifties.

In fact, Rassie van der Dussen is the only ODI batter to register a batting average over 70. Following a career-best score of 134 in 117 balls against England in July 2022, the Proteas star took his average within touching distance of 75.

Rassie van der Dussen’s batting average of 74.95 in 36 ODI matches is significantly greater than Ryan ten Doeschate, who is second on the list at 67.00.

The now-retired Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate is arguably one of the greatest players to have played cricket from an Associate nation, as he amassed 1,541 runs in 33 ODI matches.

The South Africa-born all-rounder batted in all but one of his 50-over matches for the Netherlands, with the 2007 ODI match against Scotland washed out and his team not getting a chance to bat.

Ryan ten Doeschate’s best performance with the bat came against England during the 2011 Cricket World Cup. He slammed a 110-ball 119 as the Netherlands were chasing a target of 297. His knock, however, ended in a losing cause as the Three Lions won the fixture by six wickets.

Ten Doeschate retired in 2021 as the Netherlands�?leading run-getter in ODIs, with five centuries and nine fifties. He is the only non-active player on the top five list for best batting average in ODI cricket.

Babar Azam, the current top-ranked batter on the ICC Men’s ODI rankings, is the third batter with the best batting average in ODI cricket.

The Pakistan captain has amassed 4,442 runs in 89 matches while registering a batting average of 59.22 and a strike rate of 90.24.

Azam is one of the finest batters Pakistan has ever had, and he continues to climb up the run charts. His highest individual ODI knock was 158 off 139 deliveries against England in 2021.

Former India captain Virat Kohli is next on the list. He is currently the highest-active ODI run-scorer with 12,344 runs in 262 games, and has registered a batting average of 57.68.

Kohli is among the greatest modern-day stalwarts across all forms of cricket. But in ODI cricket alone, the top-order batter is seen as someone who could break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI hundreds, given he has scored 43 centuries in 50-overs cricket.

Best batting average in ODI cricket

Player	Career span	Matches	Runs	Average
Rassie van der Dussen	2019-2022	36	1,499	74.95
Ryan ten Doeschate	2006-2011	33	1,541	67.00
Babar Azam	2015-2022	89	4,442	59.22
Virat Kohli	2008-2022	262	12,344	57.68
Imam-ul-Haq	2017-2022	52	2,520	54.78

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / OLI SCARFF

Faf Du Plessis retired as captain of South Africa from Test and T20Is in February 2020, just before the global pandemic gripped the world and brought the sport to a standstill. After a great start to his time as the Proteas skipper, the last year wasn’t as fruitful for the 35-year-old. 

During the 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, South Africa were knocked out of the semi-finals contention quite early in the tournament, after having managed just a single win from their first seven games. 

#BreakingNews @faf1307 has announced that he is stepping down from his role as captain of the Proteas�?Test and T20 teams effective immediately. #Thread pic.twitter.com/ol9HzpEOhZ

�?Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) February 17, 2020

Du Plessis soon called his time as skipper, with Quinton De Kock appointed as captain across the white-ball formats effective immediately. The wicket-keeper has grown into his new role quite comfortably, starring for his side against World Champions England in their first ODI series since they won the World Cup. He hit 107 as the hosts chased down England's 258-8 with 14 balls left. Following his debut against England as a white-ball captain, De Kock secured a 3-0 ODI series victory over visitors Australia in the subsequent series. 

While the future of the Proteas seems set to continue under the helm of Quinton De Kock for the shorter formats, Cricket South Africa (CSA) is yet to decide on a captain for the longest format. 

With former Test skipper and Proteas legend Graeme Smith now acting as the new director of the CSA, the board is expected to announce their decision as soon as world cricket is deemed fit to resume. Smith recently confirmed that Quinton De Kock will not be the Test captain, while not stating any clear candidates for the job as well. 

Read | David Warner or Quinton de Kock - Who is the better T20I opener?

With South Africa not scheduled to play any Test before touring West Indies in July and August, they have some time to decide who will lead them in the red-ball format. 

And thus, the question that remains is; �?/span>Who will lead the Test side now?�?/strong>

Graeme Smith himself was a gamble when he was made their Test captain at the ripe age of 22. He had played just eight Tests when he took over from Shaun Pollock but was one of the most prolific Test captains that the modern game has seen, leading the Proteas for 109 Tests for over 11 years, winning 53 of those matches. Under his leadership, South Africa soared to the pinnacle of the longest format of the game. He scored a record 15 Test hundreds as a captain. Another astounding record is that South Africa never lost a Test when Smith scored a hundred.

Many of their top players have recently announced their retirement, including Vernon Philander, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn (from red-ball cricket), Imran Tahir (from ODIs) and JP Duminy which has seen the Proteas losing a substantial part of their leadership core. During the summer of 2019-20 season, South Africa fielded almost 33 players across all formats, giving debuts to nine players in Test cricket. Of these, those who impressed were; Rassie Van Der Dussen and Anrich Nortje. 

And Van Der Dussen’s name came up as a potential Test captain after seeing his ability to handle pressure while maintaining a relatively consistent run rate. 

At the 2019 World Cup, Rassie Van Der Dussen was South Africa's second-highest run-scorer behind du Plessis, and fourth-highest in the Test season after de Kock, Dean Elgar and du Plessis.

"The challenge for when we do play some cricket is to see who escalates themselves into really consistent performances and who steps up. Coming from a person who a risk was taken on, it is something we would consider," Smith said when asked about the South African Test captaincy. 

These words rightly sum up the aforementioned option for the Proteas, as he has just four Test caps to his name and a solitary First-Class captaincy experience. Van Der Dussen is also a respected figure in the dressing room and oozes a sense of confidence, all attributes of being a perfect Test skipper. 

Taking a calculated risk in this aspect is not a new phenomenon for the Proteas, who also have the likes of Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram in the setup. While Bavuma has the experience of captaining the Lions franchise - who have won the First-Class title for the past two seasons - he was recently dropped from the Test side, before being recalled for the England Tests after a career-best 180. He, however, was unable to replicate the same form.

Meanwhile, Markram led South Africa to the Under-19 World Cup title in 2014, which is the only African nation’s second title in professional cricket till date. He was touted as the future senior men's team skipper but spent the majority of last summer on the sidelines with a fractured finger, incurred during the first Test against England at Centurion in December. 

His return was more than meritorious, scoring two centuries in six domestic limited-overs matches and was in line to return to the Test squad before the suspension of the competition. However, no centuries in his last 38 completed innings for South Africa, regardless of format, makes him a less probable option for Test captaincy.

Among the aforementioned players, Markram is undoubtedly more talented than any of the other candidates, despite having had 30 fewer innings than Bavuma. His prowess at opening the batting in all his trips to the Test crease has helped scored three more centuries. However, Bavuma has made 421 more runs than Markram even though he has been shuffled up and down the order, having played in five different places in the top seven, including as an opener.

Another name in the bag is a seasoned First-Class skipper, Dean Elgar. He has 50 games as captain to his name, including nine at the helm of South Africa’s A team. He was also in charge at the 2006 Under-19 World Cup. Elgar is among the more experienced players of the lot, having represented the Proteas in 63 Tests, with an average of 38.49. He, in fact, has been a part of South Africa’s Test setup since November 2012, while Smith was still captain. 

One more player who has willingly put his name into the mix is Keshav Maharaj, with the spinner putting himself into contention despite not being among the board’s initial candidates. "I really want to captain the Proteas. It's been my dream. Not many people know that, but those close to me know that I do want to captain the South African team across all three formats," Maharaj said.

While Maharaj's goals are ambitious, he has previous experience which might work in his favour. Maharaj led the Dolphins, in last season's one-day cup, where they were declared winners after the competition was suspended because of the global pandemic. 

The Dolphins finished on top of the point tally with seven victories from 10 matches. Maharaj was their leading wicket-taker and fourth-highest overall. Batting wise, he hasn’t really been as prolific, but finished with the second-highest average for the Dolphins, scoring his maiden List-A half-century, which helped his team to a match-winning total in a low-scoring game against the Cobras.

The South African cricketing board has not set a deadline for the announcement of their new Test captain, but with cricket unlikely to resume for the next several months, they are in no hurry to hand out the armband, with Smith bringing his calm persona into his decision making for the CSA. 

The new Proteas skipper will need to lead his team at the top, keeping in mind the many limitations to the team due to quota policies. With South Africa having underperformed massively at the World Cup and placed seventh in the ICC World Test Championship, the new skipper will need to be someone who can lead from the front, and who better than one of their greatest legends in Graeme Smith to choose the future skipper of South Africa’s Test team.