Wellington beat Napoleon by picking the right venue. South Africa could do the same to Australia

October 1, 2026 — 7:30pm

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Wellington won at Waterloo by picking ground that took away Napoleon’s greatest weapon – speed.

Cricket South Africa looks to have done something similar for Australia’s Test tour: Durban, Gqeberha (East London), Cape Town – and no Wanderers ground in Johannesburg.

That’s not scheduling by accident. That’s a board that has looked hard at 25 years of results and decided the “Bullring” in Johannesburg isn’t the fortress everyone assumes it is, not against Australia anyway.

I’ve heard commentators talk up Johannesburg as if it’s still 1996, some unconquerable stronghold. The record says otherwise. Australia flogged South Africa there in 2002.

The stars were Hayden, Martyn and Gilchrist, with a monstrous double-hundred, against an attack that had Donald, Ntini, Kallis and Nel in it. Australia won again in 2006, with Hussey grinding it out, Martyn making runs when it mattered and Lee chipping in with the bat at the end.

And I still remember watching an eighteen-year-old Pat Cummins take seven wickets there on debut in 2011, six of them in the second innings, before he and Mitchell Johnson saw Australia home.

Three visits, three wins. So that’s certainly no fortress. In fact, you........

© Brisbane Times