Drinks are on the field,already So how do the stands get crowd-ready for a Test match? In India,and most other parts of the world,it would mean maintenance of seats,general upkeep of public areas and stacking up on water packets. Not in South Africa,especially not in Centurion. At the Supersport Park,a day before the first Test,several trucks poured into the ground with countless kegs of beer. With drinking holes creatively named Stumps Bar and Captains Deck spread all over the circumference of the stadium,the locals can purchase their cold one without having to move their tipsy torsos too far. After a few hours of unloading,each pub held enough ethanol to quench a few armies,twice over. A sozzling Test unfolds on Thursday. Unputdownable Gibbs His bald head,freckled cheeks and glinting eyes stare at you from everywhere. To The Point,Herschelle Gibbss autobiography cannot be missed by the blind,or if you happen to venture out in Johannesburg. From the streets of Germiston to the upscale stores of the Sandton,Gibbss best-seller makes many heads turn towards its cover,and a few in shame in the corridors of Cricket South Africa. Maybe,thats why a giant wall-hanging of the whistle-blower adorning a massive wall of the indoor nets area of the Supersport Park has been conveniently covered with equally large plants and plenty of cacti. While Graeme Smiths backfoot punch is displayed to the world on the closest facade in all its glory,the thorn-plants do their covering job on Gibbs. Clearly,canceling his central contract wasnt enough. In the words of the local librarian,Gibbs pricked us,we prick back. Ouch,now thats got to hurt! Super sport gate-keeper Andreas Ndala is not just the gate-keeper of the Supersport Park,he is also the upholder of South Africas cricket legacy. Every time he spots an Indian journalist,his message to them is the same. Go back home,man. Youre wasting your time. Were going to crush you and then you are going to cry. Better to go back home now. Nothing bad has happened yet. While most humour him,Ndala quickly senses when he is mocked. If such a situation arises,he points at the ground and says,Dale Steyn,born here. Morne Morkel,born here. AB de Villiers,born here. Andreas Ndala,born here. We know our history,it looks a lot like the future brilliant. Sachin Tendulkar,born in Mumbai,will have something to say about that. President vs Zaheer The heat is on President Jacob Zuma at the moment,after he sued a leading Protea newspaper and its cartoonist for depicting him in a compromising position. The media has decided to strike back and the radio channels took it upon themselves to lead the charge. In India,the government would come down heavily over any broadcaster calling the elected head names,but thats exactly what happens in South Africa. Radio 702 blared: Jacob Zuma must be made to face the fast bowlers of the visiting country as punishment. The president will be relieved to know that Zaheer Khan is unfit and Sreesanth has a tendency of not taking anything but the match itself too seriously.
