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Australia will have good and bad memories of Johannesburg's Wanderers three years ago and, with crowd numbers surging towards a possible ground record, the atmosphere at the famous 'Bull Ring' stadium is sure to be intense for Thursday's first cricket test.
Pace bowler Merv Hughes, now a test
selector, was taunted by fans in 1994 as he walked up the players' race at the Wanderers Stadium and thumped his bat on to the outside of the race, lunging in anger at his hecklers.
Eight years later, Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn were spat on and had beer thrown at them as they walked up the race, now covered with perspex.
It was on the 2005-06 tour that South Africa chased down Australia's massive one-day international total of 434-4, sending the Wanderers fans into a frenzy.
In the Wanderers test match, Australia opener Justin Langer was concussed by a Makhaya Ntini bouncer in the first innings and thankfully wasn't required to bat in the second innings, avoiding a potentially lethal second blow to the head, as Australia's tailenders Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz held on for a gutsy win.
This time South Africa are full of confidence after winning 2-1 in Australia.
And as a result, fans who have in the past seemed disinterested with the five-day game have snapped up tickets to the first test, as the Proteas chase a series win to give them test cricket's top ranking over Australia.
The current record of 91,251 spectators for a Johannesburg test was set in 1995, when South Africa played England.
Gauteng Cricket Board's chief executive Alan Kourie says 77,000 of a possible 156,000 tickets have been sold so far for the five days of the test match. "The recent test series in Australia captured the public's imagination and reignited interest in this ultimate form of the game," he said.
The Twenty20 game has continued its massive popularity in South Africa, and Australia's game at Wanderers against the Proteas on March 27 has been sold out in the 32,000-capacity stadium.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting wanted to give his bowlers a solid hit-out and they certainly got that as South Africa President's XI smashed 5-393 on day one of their three-day game.
After being sent in at Potchefstroom, the home side thrilled the handful of fans at Senwes Park with some big hitting, mainly from the bowling of Bryce McGain.
The Victorian leg-spinner took 2-126 from 19 overs, conceding 18 fours and four sixes in a mixed performance that didn't exactly seal a test debut in Johannesburg from next Thursday.
Tasmanian quick Ben Hilfenhaus was Australia's most impressive bowler with 1-60 from 20 overs. Durban-born Imraan Khan scored a fine 100 from 111 balls.
- AAP
