In India vs South Africa match at Rose Bowl, the commentary box was actually a hotel bedroom!

In 1999, when the cricket World Cup was held in England last time, a technological advancement had become one of the tournament’s biggest controversies. Former South African captain Hansie Cronje was found communicating with former team coach Bob Woolmar (both dead now) over earpiece from the ground. While for many it was an innovation which was ahead of its time, others saw it as an unjust method and the South African skipper was made to put it down. India were the team against which the Proteas were playing on that occasion.

Fast forward to 2019. And this time, there was no controversy but a pleasant shock. On the eve of the India-South Africa game at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday, former Proteas captain Shaun Pollock revealed something stunning. Pollock took to the social media to disclose that the commentary box at the venue of the game was actually a hotel! He made a video tour of the makeshift commentary box which had all that is found in a hotel room – beds, bathing closets, coffee stations, toilets, lounge, etc. etc. An impressed Pollock called the arrangement “pretty unique really”.

“Talking about the venue, what’s unique about this Rose Bowl is that the commentary box is not a commentary box. It’s a bedroom and this part of the ground is actually a hotel,” the 45-year-old former all-rounder said in the video. “Pretty unique really. A mobile commentary box. Pretty intelligent as well,” he added. The room is turned back into one for hotel accommodation when not used as a commentary box.

However, Pollock though was impressed with the innovation which has been brought into the scheme of things in 21st century cricket, he was certainly not happy with the way his country fared in the game.

Unique ground for SA v India clash.. why?? @nissanza #CWC19 #NissanAtICC #NissanSA pic.twitter.com/HMKzOe0Ici

— Shaun Pollock (@7polly7) June 4, 2019

India beat South Africa by 6 wickets

South Africa suffered their third successive defeat in the 2019 World Cup, making it their worst ever campaign opener ever. After failing to chase two 300-plus targets against England and Bangladesh at the Oval, South Africa now were hammered by India by 6 wickets. Batting first, the Proteas scored 227 for 9 in 50 overs and India comfortably overhauled the score with 6 wickets in hand. Opener Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten in 122 to guide his team home.