Seeing is believing

Their countrymen might only have tied the series. But, over the course of this three-match battle, little has occurred to dampen the enthusiasm or the spirit of the huge numbers of South African fans whose presence here at Colonial Stadium this week has permitted them the chance to witness history in the making.

Talk to the plethora of tour groups and expatriates here at Melbourne's state-of-the-art indoor stadium, though, and there becomes no doubt that the Super Challenge 2000 series has been nothing short of a great experience.

Take Aboobaker Joosab, for instance. Positioned happily in his padded Level Two seat close to side-on to the wicket, Aboo was very positive about what has been played out before him.

"Under the roof, the cricket is very good because you'll get more results and there's more insurance against the weather," he enthused as he watched Neil McKenzie and Lance Klusener revive their team from a position of 4/19 early in the third match.

"I think the future is going to be bright with this, very bright.

"This will be the next trend, all the other countries will follow this."

A fellow native of Durban, Ismail Moosa was also very positive about the overall experience. Of course, the occasion of a first ever visit to Australia, in itself, was always eagerly anticipated. But his excitement was only heightened by his visit to the showpiece venue in the city's new Docklands precinct which has been all the rage this week. Having come with an open mind about the closed roof, Ismail will not be leaving disappointed.

"It's absolutely superb, one of its kind in the world," said Ismail about Colonial. "I think this is probably required all round the world; every country should have one of these!

"It's something that is different altogether, especially when you don't even have to worry about the weather."

Like many around him, Ismail was of no doubt that Colonial's impact would also prove decisive in helping lift the game out of the traumatic state in which it has been foundering over recent months.

"To (revive), bring cricket itself back into the limelight is a very good idea."

Strictly speaking, seventeen year-old Melissa Zoghby did not come direct from her birthplace to be at this event. Having migrated to Melbourne with her family nine months ago, she would actually be well entitled to have a foot in both camps. But, as a long-time resident of Johannesburg, neither her passion for South African cricket nor the sight of the team playing under a roof was any less pronounced.

For her, day-night matches should take precedence over day fixtures (like the last match of the series) but the most notable feature of the series remained its sense of innovation.

"It's very good, good for a change ... it's very good to keep the cold out and the rain."

Should the event (as now seems a distinct possibility) be repeated? Melissa's answer was emphatic: "I'd come for sure".

While one strange feature of the crowd's involvement in this series has been that the ground has remained sparsely filled until toward the matches' half-way points, there has been little shortage of Proteas' supporters here from the outset of all three games. Replica South African players' outfits, dark green and gold tracksuits, and national flags have all been in occupation long before even the light shows which have preceded these matches have begun. These devotees clearly wouldn't have missed the show for the world.