Cape Town - Tickets for days 1 and 2 of the second Test at Newlands in Cape Town starting on the January 2 between South Africa and England have been sold out.
Capacity crowds are expected to flock to the iconic ground for the duration of the Test.
"The record-attendance for a Test at Newlands, which was achieved in the Millennium Test between South Africa and England, is under threat as sales are already closing in on the 75 000-figure without any signs of abating,” said Nabeal Dien, Chief Executive Officer of the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA).
“Our fans have demonstrated the allure that good Test cricket still holds and have been die-hard supporters of the Proteas at Newlands, which help to explain why we the hosts have won 11 out of their past 15 Tests at this picturesque ground.
“The enthusiastic support of a very knowledgeable home crowd can just bolster South Africa’s chances of adding to their impressive win-loss record in Tests since unity,” Dien added.
Several Cobras’ stars like Dale Steyn, JP Duminy, Hashim Amla and Stiaan van Zyl form part of the South African 15-man group for the Test and will lure even more local enthusiasts to Newlands.
"Cricket, like the minstrels, has been part of Cape Town’s New Year’s celebrations for as long as we can remember and one of the undoubted highlights of the sporting calendar of the Mother City, on par with a rugby Test at Newlands,” said Beresford Williams, president of the WPCA.
“We are proud to host our South African fans from the Western Cape, domestic tourists from Gauteng and our England visitors on a ground which has won universal acclaim as one of the most picturesque venues globally.”
Details of the Test are as follows:
Date: January 2-6, 2015
Venue: Newlands
Start of play: 10:30 (gates open at 8:30)
Ticket prices: Tickets from R140 onwards
Tickets for the remainder of the Test are still available and can be purchased through the following channels:
PPC Newlands ticket office (021-6572089 / 42)