South Africa vs England: Visitors to support Proteas in Pink ODI at the Wanderers

The annual Pink One-day International at the Wanderers in Johannesburg is set to be another memorable affair. ‘Pink’ International games have been a tradition of sorts in countries like Australia and South Africa. The program is intended towards raising awareness on breast cancer and money collected from the game is given as charity. While Australia plays the Pink Test every year at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Wanderers is the stadium where South Africa stage its annual Pink International in the 50-over format.

The third One-day International between South Africa and England will be the ninth such affair in Johannesburg and the occasion just got even better with the visitors joining the Proteas in raising funds for breast cancer charities by wearing a limited edition pink kit on Sunday. Funds raised from the Pink ODI will go towards the Breast Care Unit at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg.

“We’ve been proud to supply South Africa with pink jerseys for the past four years and to have both teams stepping out in special jerseys for the first time will be a special moment,” kit supplier New Balance’s head of cricket Liam Burns was quoted as saying by India Today.

South Africa’s streak of not losing the Pink ODI was broken by Pakistan in 2019

The Pink-Day annual One-day International has witnessed many memorable moments in the past. It was on this very occasion when former South African captain AB de Villiers, at the expense of the hapless West Indian attack, smacked the fastest hundred [in 31 balls] in the history of One-day International cricket. That was 2015.

Back in 2018, Henrich Klaasen provided yet another classic Pink day moment when he shellacked the Indian bowling attack to all corners of the Wanderers to lead the Proteas to what was their only win in the six-match series. South Africa’s record of not losing a Pink One-day International since its inception was quashed by Pakistan last year when the hosts were comprehensively beaten by eight wickets.

And the Quinton de Kock-led Proteas will be looking to get back to winning ways when they take on the Eoin Morgan-led World Champions on Sunday. Whether it is a series-decider or a dead-rubber will depend on whether England bounces back in Durban or not after having endured a drubbing in the first game at Newlands.