Melbourne, Feb 26 : Johannesburg's bullring stadium, the Wanderers Ground, provides no refuge for the timid cricketer and has always produced results either good or bad.

The last time Australian and South Africa played a one-day international at the ground, Australia set a world-record score of 434 only to watch the home side better it in the next innings.

Australia, meanwhile, have a 3-1 post-Apartheid record in Test matches, having twice won by an innings, FOX Sports reported.

The Wanderers is a heaving, threatening ground when it's full. The stands rise straight up above the field of play and fans perch above the players. And the hill area in front of the low-level dressing rooms provides plenty of opportunity for the locals to say what they think to visitors.

Even Steve Waugh says the place is "imposing".

Former wicketkeeper Ian Healy says the Wanderers is a lively place, and that South African people are more like Australians than any he has met.

"It's always a very spirited hill in front of the players' viewing area and the boys can look forward to some nice comments as they watch play.

"The race wasn't covered and there was a little gap at eye level, and a bloke was giving it to Merv and Merv got his bat through, so it's good they've covered that in," Healy saaid.

In 2002, Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn were spat at and had beer thrown on them as they walked down the race.

That was the match in which Gilchrist became infuriated when people in the crowd taunted him verbally and with banners maliciously suggesting that his son was fathered by Michael Slater.

He made the home team and crowd pay by scoring the fastest double century in cricket, but he broke down in tears on reaching the milestone.

In 2006, Makhaya Ntini cracked Justin Langer on the skull, concussing the nuggety West Australian opener in his 100th Test.

Middle-order batsman Mike Hussey says he's not sure what conditions the tourists will face this time around. (ANI)