Press Release: ATTENDANCE FIGURES FOR INTERNATIONAL MATCHES PLAYED IN SOUTH AFRICA 1999/2000

Johannesburg - A total of 335 416 people came to South Africa's cricket grounds to watch the two series the South African national team played against Zimbabwe and England in South Africa this summer.

141 748 people attended the Standard Bank Triangular Series and 193 668 came to the Test matches against both Zimbabwe and England.

Although this was slightly lower than the projected total attendance of 400 000 people expected at all the international matches, UCBSA managing director Dr Ali Bacher said he was satisfied with the turnout. Gate takings amounted to a total of R13-million, with the projected budget having been set at R15-million. The shortfall came from the fact that the Test match against England at the Wanderers finished very early, meaning there was no Sunday crowd. And, in a particularly wet summer, Centurion Park lost out with the one-day international and most of the Test match scheduled for the ground being washed out.

"The lesson we have learnt from The Wanderers is that Test matches in South Africa will now begin on a Friday instead of the traditional Thursday. That will prevent the loss of play on a Sunday if the match should finish inside four days," Dr Bacher said.

The Test series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand scheduled for the 2000/2001 season will be the first to fit in with the new system.