Even before the schedule for the Test series between South Africa and India was confirmed, Paul Kerfoot, a retired government servant in England, booked his flight tickets and hotel. Since he didn’t want to take a chance, he made bookings for both Centurion and Durban for the first Test.
Neil Clayton made his plans later, but he ensured that he could reach in time before the first ball was bowled at Centurion on Boxing Day. He reached alright, though his luggage didn’t.
There is nothing unusual about fans following their national teams on foreign tours, but people like Clayton and Kerfoot are rare. How often do you find cricket fans spending a fortune to watch Test series of neutral countries? Especially now, when the longest format attracts fewer viewers globally. The broadcasters, a commentator once told this correspondent that, aren’t making money from Tests.
