"It’s probably only in England that we sell out most days for Test matches" : Jimmy Anderson

[MenInG]

"It’s probably only in England that we sell out most days for Test matches" : Jimmy Anderson

https://arysports.tv/englands-anderson-concerned-about-future-of-test-cricket/

LONDON: England fast bowler James Anderson is worried that Test cricket is losing popularity as attendances for the longer format are declining, with younger crowds preferring to watch Twenty20.

Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, said the launch of Twenty20 – the first international was in 2005 – and its growing young fanbase had hit crowds for Test matches.

“There is a concern. I think if you look at attendances around the world, in Test cricket they’re on the decline and it’s probably only in England that we sell out most days for Test matches,” the 34-year-old told Sky Sports on Wednesday.

“Obviously, it’s great to see Twenty20 the way it is, drawing crowds and getting young kids into the sport, but there are still a lot of players out there who want to play Test cricket and see it as the pinnacle.

“In the future, it’s something that has got to be looked at,” he added.

Anderson, recovering from a shoulder injury, is set to join Lancashire on the county circuit for the next three months before England host the first Test against South Africa in July.

 

[MenInG]

Agree with Jimmy. Seems only in England and maybe in Australia is where the true followers of the game exist. But are times changing?

 

[javiersuka]

Yes, sure you should be thankful the game isn't dead yet considering how dull and boring it is.

In India, they offer tickets at dirt cheap prices and allow thousands of Local Schoolchildren ( mostly Uninterested) to visit the ground and yet fail to fill even 40% of stadium during Tests.

 

[Junaids]

Bear in mind that grounds in England have tiny capacities, so at Trent Bridge or Edgbaston or Headingley or Old Trafford a sell-out is less than 20,000.

Whereas the two Day Night Tests at Adelaide both had more than 120,000 spectators overall and the Day Night Test at Brisbane had 70,000.

 

[HitWicket]

Bear in mind that grounds in England have tiny capacities, so at Trent Bridge or Edgbaston or Headingley or Old Trafford a sell-out is less than 20,000.

Fairly sure Edgbaston and Old Trafford (when it's got it's huge temporary stand up for internationals) both have capacities of 25,000+ nowadays?

 

[delpiero10]

Spefically regarding India, there are so many cricket grounds in the country – why don’t the BCCI consider playing the majority of their test matches at grounds with smaller (less than 25,000) capacities? The large cities have been feasted on live IPL cricket for the past decade, to the point where hardly anybody wants to attend the tests.

Moving the majority of test matches to smaller grounds that rarely/never get to host international or IPL games would surely get the locals flocking to see their international stars, and the atmosphere would be so much better with 15,000 people in a 20,000 capacity ground, rather than 15,000 in a 50,000 seater stadium.

 

[Ph_11]

That too retired people. I have watched enough of test cricket. I hate it.

 

[Hasan123]

Australia sell out tests pretty well. But most other countries tests aren't very popular.

Hopefully test cricket doesn't die out.

Day/night tests are a good idea. I think having balanced pitches will help test cricket a lot. Having flat pitches for 5 days are not very entertaining.

 

[CricFan2012]

Test cricket should be finished in the future hopefully. Awful ambassador of cricket, people barely even watch these matches and its usually one sided for the home side.

Just keep the ashes for the two countries that care for this format, invest the rest of the money some place else.

 

[javiersuka]

Test cricket should be finished in the future hopefully. Awful ambassador of cricket, people barely even watch these matches and its usually one sided for the home side.

Just keep the ashes for the two countries that care for this format, invest the rest of the money some place else.

Agree, this boring format must be wiped off the face of earth. It's like a sick limb that needs to be amputated ASAP.

 

[troodon]

Ipl

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Anybody who thinks test cricket has a future in 21st century needs a reality check. The older white people in England have kept the format relevant in the country. Not many young kids have patience to even follow scorecard of a five day match, let alone watch it on TV (forget about playing). I don't see it surviving until 2050

 

[Ellipsism]

The ODI format is without a doubt the most boring format of the game.

Nothing more than a run-fest

 

[Convict]

Fairly sure Edgbaston and Old Trafford (when it's got it's huge temporary stand up for internationals) both have capacities of 25,000+ nowadays?

Yeah. Tiny.

 

[Ph_11]

Fairly sure Edgbaston and Old Trafford (when it's got it's huge temporary stand up for internationals) both have capacities of 25,000+ nowadays?

Is that enough? You need 70/80 K loud folks to make game exciting.

 

[HitWicket]

Is that enough? You need 70/80 K loud folks to make game exciting.

However 30,000 in a 30,000 seater is far better than 30,000 in in an 80,000 seater.

And given there's only one cricket ground in the world right now that gets to that capacity I think that's a bit optimistic!

 

[Markhor]

Is that enough? You need 70/80 K loud folks to make game exciting.

Bigger capacities don't guarantee better atmosphere - look at the Emirates and Old Trafford football grounds which resembles a library half the time.

The atmosphere is usually good during an Ashes series. 2005 had some of the best atmosphere at a Test I can remember:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l2yv7OIXKIc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Ph_11]

Bigger capacities don't guarantee better atmosphere - look at the Emirates and Old Trafford football grounds which resembles a library half the time.

The atmosphere is usually good during an Ashes series. 2005 had some of the best atmosphere at a Test I can remember:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l2yv7OIXKIc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I have been in a 30K stadium and a 70 K stadium. Difefrence of day and night. Stadium done right can be so loud that you cant even hear yourself. Trust me it is unbeliveable.