Kingsmead Cricket Ground sits in Durban, South Africa, serving as the home base for the Dolphins. The ground features a capacity of 25,000 spectators, utilizing grass terracing to accommodate fans around the playing area. It operates with two distinct ends, known as the Umgeni End to the north and the Old Fort Road End to the south, defining the orientation of the play throughout every contest.
Cricket has been played here since 1923, providing a long timeline for international and domestic teams. The venue has hosted a wide range of competitions, including the Cricket World Cup, the ICC Women's Championship, and the SA20 tournament. Its history is defined by its role in hosting international Test matches, one-day internationals, and various T20 series involving national squads from all over the world.
The men's Test history at this location began with a match against England in early 1923 and concluded its recent international schedule with a fixture against Sri Lanka in late 2024. The men's ODI format saw its first outing in 1992 and continued until a contest against England in 2020. T20 international cricket has also been a fixture here, starting with Kenya versus New Zealand in 2007.
Women's cricket has occupied a significant portion of the schedule at this ground. The first women's Test occurred between South Africa and England at the turn of 1961, with the last occurring in 1972. More recent years have seen an increase in limited-overs formats, with women's ODIs running from 2021 to 2023 and the first women's T20 international taking place against the West Indies in 2016.
Domestic teams have left their mark on the turf at Kingsmead through various professional eras. The Dolphins have called the ground home since 1923, maintaining a continuous presence. Newer franchises have also utilized the space, including the Durban Heat from 2018 to 2019 and Durban's Super Giants, who have been active at the ground since 2023 as part of the ongoing SA20 competition structure.
Recent results show the competitive nature of the SA20 at this ground. In 2026, the Pretoria Capitals secured a seven-wicket win against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, while Durban's Super Giants defeated the Paarl Royals by 58 runs in a separate match. However, the Pretoria Capitals also managed to edge out Durban's Super Giants by 15 runs, showing how the pitch balance changes between various tournament days.
The 2025 season provided a similarly varied set of outcomes for the local side. Durban's Super Giants lost to the Joburg Super Kings by six wickets and dropped another match to the Paarl Royals by five wickets. The Sunrisers Eastern Cape also claimed a victory over the Super Giants by 58 runs, keeping the results at the ground unpredictable and contested throughout the most recent professional calendar.
The ground has a capacity of 25,000, which includes both traditional seating and grass terracing.
The Dolphins are the primary tenants, having played there since 1923. Durban's Super Giants also use the venue for the SA20.
The first men's Test match at the ground took place in January 1923 between South Africa and England.