# South Africa Test Tour Diary: Episode 4 - J-Bay

An episode of [The Howie Games](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1146329262), 21 Oct 2026, 27 min.

Audio: https://enrichment.soundstack.com/4vjqq8/episode.flightcast.com/e3e72a0pur0obunxjcadni55.mp3

Off to Qeberha, we go... you'll even learn how to say that as you join our South African adventure. Howie heads into the surf for a bucket-list experience. A tube at J-Bay! You better believe it! And somehow, no sharks. You'll feel like you are right there with us. From the meet-and-greet with Trev and getting a board, to the beach, the waves and all the action in the water, it's a proper surf day. There's more Aussie banter on the radio, a good reflection from Howie about that viral moment, and we catch up with Sam Harper on tour before turning our attention to Test 2, Day 1. The weather, the crowds, the atmosphere and a few fun moments with the Supersport crew. Another day, another adventure, and another little slice of life on the road with The Howie Games. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

[0:02] A listener production.
[0:05] Today, life could be no better.
[0:06] So these are the days that I live for.
[0:07] The predictions are completely rewound, ready for break.
[0:18] Port Elizabeth is getting a makeover.
[0:20] The city and its airport are to be renamed.
[0:23] But in 2021, South Africa restored its original Kosa name.
[0:27] P.E.
[0:27] itself is now Kwebega.
[0:30] Kwebega.
[0:31] Kwebega.
[0:31] Kwebega.
[0:32] Kwebega.
[0:33] Kwebega.
[0:34] Can I say it to me?
[0:36] Kwe.
[0:37] Kwe.
[0:38] Kwe.
[0:39] Kwebega.
[0:40] Kwebega.
[0:42] So do you see what you're doing there?
[0:43] Yeah.
[0:44] Yeah, so as soon as you try and make the click separate, then it will be separate.
[0:50] One more time.
[0:53] Just give me some home well.
[0:54] I've got to nail this before the test starts.
[0:55] The problem with him is he doesn't get the side of it.
[0:59] That's why I say Labashain rather than Labashkakni.
[1:02] See, but you say that easy once you've been told, right?
[1:05] We've got to get this right.
[1:06] I'm going to practice this for six days.
[1:07] Thank you, Jen.
[1:13] Monday the 14th of October, 9am.
[1:16] Today is a travel day.
[1:20] Never the most exciting part of these trips.
[1:22] So today we are going from Durban to the city that was formerly known as Port Elizabeth, which is now Kwerberka.
[1:34] But this is the equivalent of going from Melbourne to Adelaide.
[1:39] But today, to get to Kauberka, we are going via Johannesburg.
[1:44] So it's like going from Melbourne to Adelaide via Sydney on two flights.
[1:51] On we roll.
[1:52] On we roll.
[1:53] Going on to your left.
[1:56] Hi.
[1:56] Hello.
[1:57] On your left side?
[1:58] Left side.
[2:00] Good, this is your Zabir.
[2:01] Welcome to our Tadbanks National Airport Airport.
[2:04] Port Elizabeth at 105 FA373.
[2:09] Thank you.
[2:09] Thank you very much.
[2:12] Better give him a passport.
[2:13] That'll be good.
[2:14] Yes, that is number one.
[2:15] Yep.
[2:16] Hello, how are you?
[2:18] HC.
[2:18] Thank you so much.
[2:19] Thank you.
[2:20] Thank you.
[2:21] So we've gone one hour north.
[2:25] And now, 1 hour 33 south.
[2:29] My name is Myrius.
[2:30] You can see I'm the first officer and I have the privilege of flying you to a port of Swiss today.
[2:34] Please do not judge me on my landing.
[2:36] This beautiful lane 737-800 can be as slippery as a way to record.
[2:41] I'm not feeling the confidence to skip that.
[2:44] And if you get that look, oh, well, you're on your own.
[2:47] And quite funny.
[2:48] I like it.
[2:48] We're just finishing up with our last bits of learning.
[2:50] It should be on our way shortly.
[2:55] How are you, mate?
[2:56] I'm good, mate.
[2:56] Good.
[2:57] I'd just like to pick up a car.
[2:58] Thanks, mate.
[2:59] The surname is Howard.
[3:01] H-O-W-A-R-D.
[3:02] Thanks, mate.
[3:03] Thank you.
[3:03] Thank you very much.
[3:04] I'll get your car in with you.
[3:05] Thank you.
[3:06] Thank you.
[3:08] What type of car we got today?
[3:09] It's an urban cruiser.
[3:11] An urban cruiser?
[3:12] Yes.
[3:12] So you're saying this is a brand new car?
[3:14] Brand new one.
[3:15] Well, there should be no scratches on it, then.
[3:16] No, there's nothing.
[3:17] But I don't want you to sign without checking.
[3:19] OK, mate.
[3:20] No, it looks good to me, mate.
[3:21] I'm the first driver, am I?
[3:23] Yes.
[3:24] Right-o.
[3:25] Whoa.
[3:29] Eight hours later, that's a long day for a short trip.
[3:33] But we're here.
[3:34] As you heard, the car's brand new.
[3:36] Positive to have a car.
[3:37] Got a few days off.
[3:39] Port Elizabeth or Berka, never been here before, which is always exciting.
[3:44] So there's hopefully a few waves to be had.
[3:48] So off we go.
[3:57] 5.fm on episode 3.
[4:00] 10,000 rand.
[4:00] I don't want to do, I can't keep you up.
[4:02] To be old.
[4:04] Alrighty, alrighty, alrighty.
[4:07] It is ten past six in the morning on Thursday the 16th of October.
[4:12] As you just heard on the wireless, it is 10k Thursday, which is 10,000 Rand.
[4:18] You ring in Australian, about 1,000 bucks, win the prize.
[4:21] So I might have to call it and see how we go.
[4:23] But nevertheless, today life could be no better.
[4:27] So these are the days that I live for.
[4:30] There is no work on it.
[4:31] There is no travel today.
[4:33] What there is, is a car, a full tank of petrol, the African coastline spread out ahead of me.
[4:40] So from Port Elizabeth down to Cape Town, it's known as the Garden Route.
[4:44] One of the great drives.
[4:45] I haven't done much of it.
[4:46] It's basically like, for Australian listeners, the Great Ocean Road on steroids.
[4:51] But it is also a surfing mecca.
[4:54] So...
[4:55] I am headed at the moment an hour away, about 100km to a place called Jefferies Bay.
[5:01] Now, surfers have immediately gone, oh my gosh, oh my gosh.
[5:04] Jefferies Bay, one of the great right-hand point breaks in the world.
[5:08] For those that don't surf, it's the place where Mick Fanning punched the shark in the head and lived to tell the tale.
[5:14] Hopefully there's none of that today.
[5:15] Now, it's a very fickle surf break.
[5:17] It's not really the right time of year, but you just never know.
[5:22] So I've packed a bag.
[5:23] I've got some sneakers in case there's no waves anywhere and there's a chance to go for a run or a hike.
[5:29] I have a wetsuit that I brought with me, a magnificent rip curl wetsuit.
[5:33] Cha-ching.
[5:34] I don't have a surfboard, but what I do have is Sean Pollock's contact book.
[5:39] So he put me onto a fella called Mike.
[5:42] Hi, there's the link to the webcam, the live web.
[5:45] If you're not familiar with Jeffries, Supers is at the top of the picture, Tubes is in the middle, and Surface Point is at the bottom towards the left.
[5:52] Mike's a beauty.
[5:53] Mike, put me onto another fella called Trev.
[5:56] I'll send you Trev's details now.
[5:58] Thanks, Howie.
[5:58] Have a good evening.
[5:59] Now, Trevor's apparently the surfing guru of Jefferies Bay.
[6:04] Been in touch with him.
[6:05] He said, Howie, first they always say, how's it, man?
[6:08] How's it, man?
[6:09] He said, just head down the coast.
[6:11] I don't know what the surf will be like.
[6:12] There hasn't been any waves, but I can help you out with a surfboard.
[6:15] I'll show you Jefferies Bay.
[6:17] adventures, potential surfs, potential no surfs, which is the greatest part of any safari.
[6:23] You'd never know if you're gonna get away of it or not.
[6:25] The only thing that would make this better is if my adventuring partner, my delightful wife, Erica, was here beside me.
[6:33] She is the queen of navigation, she loves Africa.
[6:35] This would make this trip even better.
[6:37] But it's tunes.
[6:39] It's expectation.
[6:40] You never know what's around the corner.
[6:42] The speed limit, by the way, is 120 here on the South African road, so you've got to pay full attention.
[6:49] Let's just see what happens.
[6:51] Let's just see what happens.
[6:53] In 600 metres, turn left onto our 102 towards Jefferies Bay.
[6:58] Oh, my word, we will take the turn to Jefferies Bay.
[7:01] Oh, my word.
[7:06] Trey, how's it, man?
[7:07] How are you?
[7:08] I'm good in self, man.
[7:09] Nice to meet you.
[7:10] You too.
[7:10] Give me a hug.
[7:11] I'm a hugger.
[7:12] Don't worry, mate.
[7:13] How are you, mate?
[7:14] I'm good.
[7:14] You're a scrawny mother, man.
[7:15] You don't need a freaking big board, man.
[7:18] No, I don't need a big board.
[7:19] Mate, how's the day?
[7:21] That's beautiful.
[7:21] You couldn't have arrived on a better day.
[7:23] I've got lots of boards.
[7:27] I think that's going to be your...
[7:28] Perfect.
[7:28] It's like 36 litres.
[7:30] It's a super fun little board to ride.
[7:32] Yep.
[7:32] And for the swell we've got at the moment, I reckon that's probably your best bet, unless you want something bigger.
[7:38] No, that's perfect.
[7:39] It's 5'10".
[7:40] Beauty, mate.
[7:41] Now, Trev, lovely to see you.
[7:43] What is going on here today?
[7:45] You're a bit concerned about the wind?
[7:47] Yeah, the onshore's come up and we've got a bit of swell forecast for later in the day, so not looking great, but I'm sure we'll get a couple of waves.
[7:55] But before we get to that, I want to say, how badly did South Africa play?
[8:00] I thought they played very well.
[8:02] It was just Australia played better.
[8:04] That was a cracking test match.
[8:06] Yeah, I think we stumbled a little bit.
[8:09] It was actually very disappointing, but hopefully they'll rectify that.
[8:12] Well, one thing you had is 6 for 124.
[8:14] You had it on toast, but, yeah, they're a good team.
[8:19] Now, Trev, tell me a bit of your story.
[8:22] How did you end up here in Jay Bay?
[8:26] Well, I've been here since 85.
[8:29] Okay.
[8:29] It must have changed.
[8:31] A lot, but more than that, my parents...
[8:36] had the third or fourth house in St. Francis Bay, which in those days was , which was a pig farm.
[8:43] Yeah.
[8:44] And that is where Endless Summer was filmed.
[8:46] Why they go over the sand dunes?
[8:49] Halfway around the world and halfway across the dunes, it seemed like a bad idea.
[8:54] When you go looking for surf, you don't look for a really big wave.
[8:58] What every surfer dreams of finding is a small wave with perfect shape, what we call a perfect wave.
[9:04] The odds against finding that are 10 million to 1.
[9:07] They finally got their first look at Cape St. Francis, South Africa.
[9:13] Correct.
[9:14] So I grew up there and we had the house there in 1959.
[9:20] So if you're wondering about seeing change, that's in a different era.
[9:29] So yeah, I've been around a bit, so I've watched this whole development and seen all the changes.
[9:35] Some good, some not so good.
[9:37] How much more crowded is it in the surf now?
[9:39] Way, way more crowded.
[9:41] But we're nowhere near the levels that there are in Australia.
[9:46] Australia is just like...
[9:47] I mean, I don't even know if I would surf if I was in Australia.
[9:50] It just looks like...
[9:51] There's so many good waves there, but I mean, that's...
[9:54] Well, down where we are, it's pretty good because it's cold.
[9:57] Not that many people around in winter, but up on a Gold Coast, that's a circus.
[10:01] The Gold Coast looks like an absolute shit show.
[10:03] Yeah, it's a circus.
[10:04] Winky Pop and those areas and Bells, I mean, that must be a very similar sort of temperature to what we're getting here.
[10:12] Exactly, it is.
[10:13] Pretty similar sort of conditions, woolly and cold in the winter and then nice and warm in the summer.
[10:17] Well, I surfed at Bells two weeks ago and the water temperature is probably...
[10:23] 15 at the moment.
[10:24] Okay, well, then it's very similar to here, but we've had a really cold water this year.
[10:28] We've got a lot of onshore, so we get this cold upwelling.
[10:31] Yeah.
[10:32] And it's been cold for four months.
[10:33] It's just starting to warm up now again.
[10:35] Wow, what a car pass.
[10:38] So, yeah, we hope we get a couple of waves, and it's warmed up.
[10:41] I can see it's still got a bit of a brown colour to it, so it's still cool.
[10:46] Yeah.
[10:46] This is it.
[10:47] There we go.
[10:48] The famous right-hand point break.
[10:50] J-Bay.
[10:51] Oh, my goodness, matey.
[10:56] Hey, how was first trip to J Bay?
[10:58] Oh, there's a wave, a small one.
[11:00] A couple of little waves.
[11:01] There's going to be an Australian kook out there very soon.
[11:03] We're at the point.
[11:04] Come through here.
[11:05] Come through here.
[11:08] Check out the point.
[11:09] Welcome to the point at J Bay.
[11:11] I'm going to run around the corner.
[11:12] A few boys out.
[11:13] There's a few boys out, Trev.
[11:15] Absolutely.
[11:17] We're going to go up to the tubes where there are not too many.
[11:19] We're going to go out here.
[11:20] It's a really cool little spot.
[11:22] A couple of waves coming through.
[11:23] It's a bit inconsistent, but the swell's picking up.
[11:25] Right.
[11:26] And I'm going to have the first taste of Jay Bay.
[11:28] Ha!
[11:29] Phew!
[11:30] OK, looking over the beach and the point, there's a wave.
[11:36] There's a frickin' wave at Jay Bay.
[11:38] It's slightly cross shore.
[11:40] It's not enormous, but there is surf to be had.
[11:43] No matter how big of kook you are, I reckon I can get one here.
[11:47] I can't believe it.
[11:49] Let's get out there with Big Trev and see what we can do.
[11:51] I should have watched you.
[11:53] Have you got a good shoot?
[11:54] Yeah, yeah.
[11:54] Rib curl, mate.
[11:55] The best.
[11:57] Yesterday, you know how the pilots sometimes greet you when they get on the plane?
[12:00] Yeah.
[12:00] I'm walking past you like, hello, Australian man, how's it?
[12:03] And I'm like, ha!
[12:05] It's going to stick with you.
[12:06] Mate!
[12:06] You're fucking kidding me.
[12:08] Welcome to Job, eh?
[12:09] What a spot.
[12:10] Let's go through there.
[12:12] There's a little channel there.
[12:13] Okay.
[12:13] I'll follow you.
[12:13] I'll follow you.
[12:18] Well, it wasn't like too bad.
[12:20] It was good.
[12:22] But there's B-Wave.
[12:23] I actually got away with J-Bay and didn't look like a complete suit.
[12:27] You said you were going in and you paddled back.
[12:29] I'm not going in now.
[12:32] Note the crowd out here.
[12:34] There's no one.
[12:35] Yeah, it took one look at this out of control Australian and it decided to skedaddle before they got damaged.
[12:40] Yeah, yeah.
[12:45] I'm not claiming a dominant performance, but I'm claiming I have caught a couple of waves here at Jay Bay.
[12:52] So for all the uncertainty this morning and me being excited about what could potentially unfold, this is why you've got to love it.
[13:01] A car, a wedding trip, supply, the board, one of the great right-handers in the world.
[13:05] Didn't know if it would be working.
[13:06] There's a wave.
[13:07] So good.
[13:08] The sun is shining.
[13:10] There's been some waves.
[13:14] Can't tell you how good this is.
[13:16] Just as we say a fond farewell to Trev, he's got an unbelievable YouTube channel.
[13:21] So if you're into travel or want to know and see more about Jefferies Bay, the town, the conditions, the waves, Trev, just search Trev Hansen or Next Offshore Adventure in YouTube.
[13:31] That's Next Offshore Adventure YouTube, Trev Hansen.
[13:35] It's a ripping channel.
[13:36] Really takes you behind the scenes, the locals, the scene, the waves.
[13:39] Elite.
[13:40] Check it out.
[13:45] Please help us.
[13:46] All right.
[13:47] So that was a sports presenter by the name of Lisa Hopwe.
[13:50] She went viral after doing an introduction of the panel during the live cricket coverage in Durban.
[13:55] And once she got to Australian cricket commentator Mark Howard, she completely blanked.
[14:01] And she called him the Australian man.
[14:05] And Rissa, like a lot of TV sports presenters have come out to defend her saying, you know, like you can prepare all you want.
[14:13] Sometimes it just happens.
[14:16] Yeah.
[14:17] Live broadcasting is difficult and that's OK.
[14:20] It's true.
[14:21] But I think Australian man is hilarious.
[14:22] But yes, it is hilarious.
[14:23] But we have that.
[14:25] opinion because i think we're on and stuff yeah i want to appeal to people who are being mean to just understand these are normal mistakes that can happen like you're not going to remember every single person's name all the time and also yeah this is a lot there's a sport happening you have to keep in mind that you have to have all this information in your head you still have to be like a presenter yeah and now you must remember people
[14:50] You didn't expect that.
[14:51] So that is the local radio here in Kiberger, breakfast radio, on the way to the gym.
[14:57] And I heard that and I banged record so you could hear it as well because it's something I've been thinking about.
[15:02] Had too much time on my own.
[15:03] Missed my family.
[15:04] So I'm trying to keep my mind busy.
[15:06] That's something further on in the podcast, I think.
[15:09] But anyway, the point is, I've been mulling over on this fact that if that had happened when I started in my TV career, in a tea break...
[15:19] 15 years ago, people watching it would have seen it, had a chuckle, moved on.
[15:24] In 2026, that literally can go around the world.
[15:27] I had a mate send me a clip of them playing that on a British talk show.
[15:31] Josh has been quick-stepping through the last seven days.
[15:34] What have you got for us?
[15:34] Yes.
[15:35] Would you like to see an awkward moment from South African cricket coverage where the host desperately tries to introduce their guests?
[15:42] Yes, please.
[15:43] The Australian man, good to have you join us.
[15:49] So now in 2026, a so-called viral moment for want of a better term, within an hour it can be accessed by anyone anywhere on the planet and anyone anywhere on the planet can comment on it, talk about it, not in this occasion but in other occasions send some pretty rough messages to people who can be at the centre of this type of thing.
[16:09] So for anyone thinking about getting into the media...
[16:12] The first thing people tell you is pretend or think your mic is always live.
[16:17] So no matter what you say or where you say it, it can be broadcast and the world can hear it within literally in an hour.
[16:25] This was a bit of fun, but yeah, you just think.
[16:28] You imagine if you're on the wrong side of a situation like that and the world was hating on you, that would be a tough place to be.
[16:35] Anyway, yeah, 2026, information flow.
[16:38] Quick.
[16:40] It is 12.50pm.
[16:42] It's Saturday.
[16:43] I don't know what the date is.
[16:44] It's the day before the second test.
[16:46] I've been sitting here with a little Victorian weekkeeper who smacks with Sammy Harper, talking travel and life on the road for the last two hours.
[16:54] I said to you, will you stand out playing cricket?
[16:56] And you just started telling me a story.
[16:57] I said, hang on, hang on.
[16:59] We need to hear this.
[17:01] Yes, this is a cool one, Howie.
[17:02] Everyone wanted the brand-new kookaburra from Rebel growing up in under 10s, under 12s.
[17:07] Of course they did.
[17:07] I used weed-keeping pads because I wasn't tall enough to fit batting pads and used either a mix of Brad Hodge or Henry McDonald's bats from age 7 to 14.
[17:15] So how did that happen?
[17:17] Yeah, so Brian, my dad, was coaching Melbourne, and, yeah, they'd break one or two of their bats, hop as a builder, we'd take it to the shed, we'd cut the bottom off, and I've still got the bats in my shed at home today.
[17:26] So your pot would chop the bottom off Ronnie's bat.
[17:29] Yeah.
[17:30] And then you'd go out and use it.
[17:31] Sand the stickers off it.
[17:32] Sand it down a little bit so I could pick the thing up so it wasn't too heavy.
[17:34] And I'd roll it off in a Friday night in a white helmet into the under 11s.
[17:39] And now...
[17:41] He's your coach.
[17:42] And here we are, first Renegades coach, one of my first Vic coaches.
[17:46] That's a cracking story.
[17:48] Does he remember that he used to use his bats?
[17:50] Oh, he would.
[17:51] As I said to you, I've still got him in the shed at home.
[17:53] So the SS Jumbo, one of Hodges and one of Runnies.
[17:57] I'll keep him forever.
[17:57] That's so good.
[18:03] Howdy.
[18:03] 5.52am Sunday, the 18th of October, out for a jog.
[18:07] Morning of the test here in Berkha.
[18:10] Been practising.
[18:12] The weather doesn't look flash, my man.
[18:14] Trev, who you met from J-Bay, has been messaging me.
[18:17] Oh, man, the weather looks cuck.
[18:19] It looks cuck for the test, man.
[18:21] That means not good.
[18:23] And it's not good at the moment.
[18:24] It's been raining overnight.
[18:25] There's talk of...
[18:27] show today.
[18:28] So this is what we call in test cricket broadcasting.
[18:30] You need to do some fallage.
[18:32] It's not a French word, it's just a made up word for fill.
[18:35] So hopefully we don't have to fill half the day and we get some cricket in.
[18:38] You ground, you test.
[18:40] Let's go.
[18:40] Morning.
[18:45] Morning.
[18:46] Morning.
[18:46] Hello.
[18:48] Morning, KB.
[18:49] Morning.
[18:50] Morning, everyone.
[18:52] Hello, hello.
[18:53] Hello, Amanda.
[18:55] Big Vern.
[18:55] Hey, Cap.
[18:56] How are you, brother?
[18:57] Yeah, good, mate.
[18:58] Surf.
[18:58] Yeah, it's Danny.
[18:59] How was it safari?
[19:00] Unbelievable.
[19:01] Good.
[19:01] Morning.
[19:02] Will we get cricket then?
[19:04] Jesus, root.
[19:05] For years, it's never known.
[19:06] The coast.
[19:07] Yeah.
[19:07] Let's get to it.
[19:08] Good morning, everybody.
[19:10] Hopefully, if we had the perfect weather, we'll probably go with the running water as it is.
[19:14] I think that's you on the safe side.
[19:16] We're going to start immediately at the studio.
[19:19] I don't know how we want you prepared from your side.
[19:21] I haven't asked yet.
[19:22] The only thing they could do is bring Bolan in.
[19:24] I don't know, Kat, like... Yeah, it's definitely possible.
[19:27] If it's under covers, yeah, which would mean they would leave.
[19:31] Okay, Bolan.
[19:33] I'm not saying that on air.
[19:37] It's not 40 degrees in the yellow, though.
[19:42] Yeah, no.
[19:42] You're opening the batting sale.
[19:44] I need some sizzle from you here.
[19:45] Sizzle.
[19:45] Sizzle.
[19:47] Sizzle.
[19:47] I want you to entertain the people of Africa.
[19:50] Sizzle.
[19:50] Sizzle.
[19:52] Hello everybody and welcome to KWK.
[19:55] Thank you for joining us and we look forward indeed, happily so, to the second test match with Australia one up in the series.
[20:03] And it is only a three test series, so a significant blow dealt in Durban.
[20:09] Let me say good morning to Kaya and also to Mark.
[20:16] Can I get it?
[20:16] Well done, Tommy.
[20:18] I've been waiting for that for six days and bang, you know, right off the top, mate.
[20:24] Oh, I, you know, it's crazy because I was trying to, I looked at our running order and everything, I thought, hold on, do I do it again?
[20:34] I can't do it again.
[20:36] The pilot on the plane greeted me the other day as the Australian man.
[20:39] I was surfing at Jeffries Bay and a bloke called the Australian man and a bloke here on security as I walked and he said, hello Australian man.
[20:45] So go with as much as you want, mate.
[20:47] I was unsure.
[20:49] Day 12 of the safari.
[20:51] The natural enemy of test cricket.
[20:53] It's raining.
[20:56] Weather report.
[20:58] Hey, Jose.
[21:00] This is just crazy.
[21:02] Hips on spitting a bit now and again.
[21:04] So we're just waiting to see if we're going to have some cricket or we'll start a bit late today.
[21:09] Frustrating.
[21:09] It is definitely frustrating.
[21:11] We need a bit of cricket.
[21:12] Come on, we need some cricket.
[21:14] We need some cricket, yes.
[21:16] Correct.
[21:17] Welcome to the middle of the ground here.
[21:19] The weather will be the big question today, and I'm joined by the local weather expert.
[21:24] His name is Steve Smith.
[21:25] Steve, nice to see you.
[21:27] What have you got for us firstly on the weather, mate?
[21:29] Nice to see you.
[21:29] Yeah, you too.
[21:30] I don't know.
[21:31] It's overcast at the moment, a few drops of rain, so, yeah, can't control that.
[21:35] We're ready to play.
[21:36] So, yeah, when the ground's ready, we're good to go.
[21:40] Well, the question is the ground.
[21:41] You can hear the roll in the background, Smithy.
[21:42] You can give us your first look, your first thoughts on the pitch here.
[21:46] It looks to be a bit of grass on it, to be fair.
[21:48] A bit of grass.
[21:49] A little bit damp, actually.
[21:50] So I just actually spoke to the groundsman.
[21:54] I said, do you not use a Hessian?
[21:56] And he's like, no, I do for morning games in one day cricket, but I actually like to see a little bit of moisture in it in the morning.
[22:02] So I
[22:04] taken back by that.
[22:05] I don't think I've seen that before but no, it looks like it's got some grass.
[22:10] Could be interesting particularly with the overheads as well.
[22:15] It is 2.16pm.
[22:19] Not one ball bowl all day.
[22:22] So we've been here since 7.30am.
[22:25] It's been a long day.
[22:26] I have tried to get my steps up.
[22:28] I've done 19 laps of the oval, some of them with
[22:33] Some cricketers, some of them with some broadcasters, some of them by myself.
[22:37] Been a long day.
[22:39] This is not what was on the brochure.
[22:41] Come to South Africa, commentate the cricket, it'll be great.
[22:44] Didn't expect this, but you're going to hear a bit more noise now because this is the most entertaining thing that's been happening all day.
[22:50] So below out the back of the commentary box is the indoor training nets for the cricketers.
[22:56] So you'll probably hear a bit more noise now.
[22:59] So at this stage, there's three nets.
[23:02] There's...
[23:04] 50 of the crew, the TV crew, and they are playing some of the great games of indoor cricket.
[23:11] This is as happy as I've seen anyone all day.
[23:14] With no cricket, the game is living on.
[23:20] Have a listen to everyone.
[23:21] The lady that called me the Australian man is batting, so it's time for a wicket now.
[23:26] Oh!
[23:36] Mark Howard in the net Look at that technique They were way perfect That's what we did to be honest We've been here for 7 hours And we played a 5 hour test match downstairs with the crew Which was fantastic But that will never be broadcast ever again The covers are coming off We're actually on It's certainly good news We are underway
[24:00] One change for the Australians, Nathan Lyon, left out for the man you're about to see in action, Boland.
[24:08] Has the ability, due to his accuracy, to get wickets in clumps as well, Boland.
[24:15] He can get one, two and three in a big hurry.
[24:20] Straight through him, Boland jags it back.
[24:22] His first wicket in South Africa and the massive wicket of Aidan Marker of Boland into the attack, breaking through.
[24:32] That's what he does, Boland, when he's on a roll.
[24:34] He just rolls and rolls.
[24:37] First ball.
[24:38] As I said, he takes wickets in clumps.
[24:40] Bettingham departs and Boland is on a hat-trick.
[24:44] Vavuma trying to prevent Boland from getting a second test hat-trick.
[24:48] And the South African captain under pressure.
[24:50] Boland rolling in on a hat-trick.
[24:55] Hicks the pad.
[24:57] Missing leg.
[24:58] Look at the slips.
[25:00] End of the over.
[25:00] What number it was.
[25:01] Might have been a bit of bad as well.
[25:02] 12 for two.
[25:06] Oh, partway through day one, a lot of rain.
[25:08] Scotty Bowen let loose.
[25:10] Didn't see enough of him.
[25:11] Hard to earn national recognition.
[25:12] Pardon the PA.
[25:13] Better get out amongst the crowd.
[25:14] There's a lot of Australians here, a lot of South Africans there.
[25:17] Having a few beers now.
[25:19] Find out what the mood's like in the crowd here.
[25:22] Good people here.
[25:23] How are we?
[25:23] What's going on with the weather?
[25:24] F***.
[25:25] That is, isn't it?
[25:26] Yeah.
[25:27] How are you?
[25:27] Yeah, good in you, man.
[25:28] Yeah, good.
[25:29] Enjoying it?
[25:30] I'm loving it.
[25:30] Australian black.
[25:31] Nice, mate.
[25:32] How are you?
[25:33] You don't recognize that, have you not?
[25:35] No, Australian black.
[25:36] What about this weather?
[25:37] Nice to meet you.
[25:38] Nice to meet you as well.
[25:38] What about this weather?
[25:39] Well, is it going to disappear or not?
[25:41] I don't know about today.
[25:42] Tomorrow from 11 o'clock will be sunny for the next four and a half days.
[25:46] Will it?
[25:47] Scotty Bowler might cling you much up like that.
[25:49] He's the best bowler.
[25:51] He's good, eh?
[25:52] Best bowler in the team.
[25:53] So, mate, it's really, really fast.
[25:57] Really fast.
[26:03] Oregon, that's about it for Episode 4 of the South African Test Tour Diaries.
[26:07] Even if you're not a surfer, I hope you enjoyed that little side mission to Jay Bay.
[26:10] Probably not as much as I did.
[26:11] What a spot.
[26:12] Pumped to get down there.
[26:14] Rain looks like it could intervene in the second test.
[26:19] Hopefully not too much of it.
[26:20] Episode 5 of the Diaries will come out as the test finishes.
[26:25] We'll take you behind the scenes, more of the broadcast, the test match, the travel,
[26:30] One of the great experiences I've ever had in this job appears in a broadcast sense, which is making me smile.
[26:37] Can't wait for you to hear that.
[26:38] So episode five, coming your way when the test match finishes.
[26:42] Spread the word about the show.
[26:43] You know the rest of the story.
[26:44] Peace and love.

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