SuperSport Park, Centurion: South Africa's High-Altitude Test Venue
SuperSport Park in Centurion is South Africa's highest-altitude Test ground. Its fast, bouncy pitches benefit pace bowlers, and its 2000m altitude causes the ball to travel further — making it South Africa's most bat-friendly venue.
The High Veld
SuperSport Park (formerly Centurion Park) is located in Centurion, Gauteng, at an altitude of approximately 1,320 metres above sea level — making it South Africa's highest major cricket venue. High altitude reduces air density, which means the ball travels further, swings less through the air, and bounces higher on hard pitches. This creates unique playing conditions: batsmen can hit the ball enormous distances, but pace bowlers get steep bounce on fast pitches.
Famous Matches — England's Declaration Win in 2000
SuperSport Park is the location of cricket's most famous 'contrived' result. In the fifth Test between South Africa and England in January 2000, both teams agreed to forfeit innings — creating an artificial contest after rain had washed out most of the first four days. England set South Africa 249 to win from 76 overs; Hansie Cronje accepted. England won by 2 wickets with one ball to spare — the only Test result agreed by mutual forfeiture. Cronje was later implicated in match-fixing allegations, casting a shadow over the match.
Pitch Character and Conditions
SuperSport Park's pitch is typically fast with good bounce from the dry highveld soil. The outfield is among South Africa's fastest. Pace bowlers who can hit the deck hard and generate steep bounce — Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel — all performed well here. The altitude means that spin bowling is less effective than at lower-altitude South African venues; SuperSport Park is a pace bowler's and batsman's ground.
Modern Facilities
SuperSport Park has a capacity of approximately 22,000 and features a distinctive media centre and hospitality facilities. It is the home ground of the Titans franchise in South African domestic cricket. The ground has hosted numerous important South African home series and is the primary venue in Gauteng alongside the Wanderers in Johannesburg. Its floodlights make it one of South Africa's primary day-night venues.
Frequently asked questions
What makes SuperSport Park unique among cricket grounds?
SuperSport Park in Centurion is South Africa's highest-altitude major Test venue at approximately 1,320 metres above sea level. The altitude reduces air density, meaning the ball travels further through the air (beneficial for batsmen hitting sixes) and swings less (reducing conventional swing bowling). The pitch is also characteristically fast and bouncy from the highveld soil. It creates the highest-scoring conditions of South Africa's major Test venues.
What is the famous 2000 Test at Centurion?
In January 2000, Hansie Cronje agreed with England captain Nasser Hussain to forfeit innings from both sides after rain had washed out most of the first four days of the fifth Test. England set South Africa 249 from 76 overs; Cronje accepted. England won by 2 wickets with one ball to spare — one of Test cricket's greatest run chases and the only Test decided by mutual forfeit. Cronje was later banned for life from cricket for match-fixing.