5 great cricket venues to visit before you die

4. Newlands, Cape Town

A stunningly located ground, Newlands is situated, such that the Table Mountain adorns its backdrop. Add to this a wonderful atmosphere, and you get a wonderful cricket-watching experience. When South Africa are doing well, Newlands is a different monster altogether. The noise that is generated, and the partisan home support can absolutely knock the stuffing out of an opponent.

The Newlands pitch is among the best in South Africa, probably the most sporting one in that country. This was most evident in 2011, when on Day 2 of a Test match, South Africa were shot out for 84, Australia got 47 in their second innings, and then Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith scored centuries that took South Africa to an easy victory.

What that match showed was that, if you could be patient and gritty, then runs were to be had, and as two scores of below 100 suggests, the bowlers find more than their fair share of help.