Barry Richards and Shehan Karunatilaka headline Kingsmead Cricket Literature Festival - IOL

Durban’s Kingsmead Cricket Ground will host its inaugural Cricket Lit Fest on 7 October 2026, featuring Barry Richards, Shehan Karunatilaka and discussions about cricket’s history, culture and future.

Durban’s Kingsmead Cricket Ground will host its inaugural Cricket Lit Fest on 7 October 2026, featuring Barry Richards, Shehan Karunatilaka and discussions about cricket’s history, culture and future.

Durban’s iconic Kingsmead Stadium is stepping off the pitch and onto the pages to host the inaugural Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Cricket Lit Fest on Wednesday, October 7, from 09:30 to 18:30.

This marks the planet’s very first book festival dedicated exclusively to the great game of leather on willow. 

For those who believe that summer isn’t a season but a state of mind dictated by the sound of leather on willow, this festival is your ultimate paradise.

We don’t like cricket, we love it - and this ground-breaking event is a love letter to the sport’s greatest stories, legendary biographers, and finest thinkers.

Kingsmead is the perfect arena for this historic debut. As the sacred ground that hosted the legendary 1939 Timeless Test and South Africa’s historic first post-apartheid test match against India in the democratic era, this venue knows a thing or two about epic narratives.

Now, it trades the boundary ropes for bookshelves, bringing together world-renowned authors, iconic players, and die-hard fans for a celebration of cricket literature like no other. The festival features an extraordinary batting line-up of headline guests.

Stepping up to the crease is legendary South African batting maestro Barry Richards, widely regarded as one of the most elegant and destructive batsmen to ever play the game. Joining him is celebrated Sri Lankan Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka, who will be speaking profoundly on his brilliantly crafted, cricket-inspired novel, "Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew".

In between will be more cricketing sessions like that of former selectors Linda Zondi and Enver Mall deliberating on the 15 players whom we should entrust to bring us Cricket World Cup glory in 2027 on home soil. 

Attendees can expect a star-studded day of panel discussions, book signings, and insightful debates that cover everything from panel discussions that take cricket lovers down memory lane to the deep-rooted cultural impacts of the sport.

Whether you are a classic traditionalist who worships the long-form poetry of Test match cricket, or a modern fan captivated by the fast-paced drama of the short game, this festival promises to hit it out of the park.

Don't find yourself caught in the slips or left stranded outside your crease when the first ball is bowled.

Clear your calendar, sharpen your pencils, and get ready to experience the beautiful game through a completely new lens.