[PICTURE] No crowds in stadiums for Test matches; This is not a UAE problem

[MenInG]

​

All those lamenting lack of Test match crowds because Pakistan is forced to play away from home, please take a good look at this picture. This is mid-morning in Chittagong, at the ongoing England-Bangladesh Test. The match is brilliantly posed, yet the stands are deserted.

What does this tell us?

One, it demonstrates that Test matches in the subcontinent are followed not from the stands but on television with excellent modern broadcast coverage in the air-conditioned comfort of your own home. We do know there are many eyeballs watching it on TV, otherwise advertising sponsors would not be forthcoming.

Two, it shows there is no reason to pity the lack of international cricket within Pakistan, as the situation would have been no different in Karachi or Lahore.

[Credit to Dr. Saad Shafqat for above]

 

[kingusama92]

Agreed.

Can't blame fans.

Who is going to sit in the heat for 7-8 hours?

 

[CricketAnalyst]

Agreed.

Can't blame fans.

Who is going to sit in the heat for 7-8 hours?

About 90,000 Bangladesh fans.

Unless it's a Test match.

The real issue here is majority fans are not interested in Test Cricket in the sub-continent.

India has such a huge overall fan base and population that it can get semi-decent crowds even in Test matches, because the only international cricket some backwater towns will have. Otherwise there just isn't any interest for Tests.

 

[MenInG]

All is not lost in the UAE.

So its been a good few years and the PCB have not been able to crack this.

Let me suggest a few ideas

1. School kids : There are few Pakistan schools in the UAE (Dubai/Sharjah/Abu Dhabi area) - Simply contact local Pakistan schools; offer them transport; bring them to the stadium; give them Tshirts and flags - guaranteed 2000 kids + parents + siblings + families of those kids

2. Set up free transport from all areas in Dubai/Abu Dhabi - offer them a gift pack

Do this a few times and watch people get the idea of watching games etc

Unfortunately this should have been done ages ago - so by this time, people would have been used to watching their team play in the stadium

Unfortunately the organizers seem to interested in distributing free passes for royal, VVVVIP, VIP enclosures and walking around with passes around their necks then doing all this.

 

[Hawkeye]

The stands used to be pretty much empty in Pakistan too. IND still has poor attendance.

Yes it's a subcontinent issue.

However UAE is taking it to another level with very very few spectators.

 

[kingusama92]

About 90,000 Bangladesh fans.

Unless it's a Test match.

The real issue here is majority fans are not interested in Test Cricket in the sub-continent.

India has such a huge overall fan base and population that it can get semi-decent crowds even in Test matches, because the only international cricket some backwater towns will have. Otherwise there just isn't any interest for Tests.

Sorry, yes I should have expanded.

I meant who wants to sit under the baking sun for 7-8 hours of cricket on day 1 WITHOUT a result at the end?

I suppose India is smart with the smaller towns tactic. It produces somewhat respectable attendance.

 

[MenInG]

Sorry, yes I should have expanded.

I meant who wants to sit under the baking sun for 7-8 hours of cricket on day 1 WITHOUT a result at the end?

I suppose India is smart with the smaller towns tactic. It produces somewhat respectable attendance.

But a result is likely here! The issue is that good TV coverage is telling people to sit home and enjoy.

 

[Sidilicious]

The stands used to be pretty much empty in Pakistan too. IND still has poor attendance.

Yes it's a subcontinent issue.

However UAE is taking it to another level with very very few spectators.

There are a few grounds in India where you get poor test crowds. But since BCCI has decided that tests will now be played at smaller centres, which dont get a lot of cricket, I would expect to see fairly decent crowds at these stadiums.

Up until mid 00s India had pretty decent test crowds. I remember watching many series on TV with packed crowds. Especially, Kolkata, Chennai and Kanpur. Even when the popularity of tests were declining in other sub continent countries, India had packed crowds. I remember watching the Indo Pak 2004 test series and all tests including Multan and Karachi had empty stadiums. But during the same period with Ind Aus and Ind Pak series, our stadiums would be full.

I think that its since the IPL started, that people are getting enough cricket, that Tests are no longer an attraction.

 

[Hawkeye]

There are a few grounds in India where you get poor test crowds. But since BCCI has decided that tests will now be played at smaller centres, which dont get a lot of cricket, I would expect to see fairly decent crowds at these stadiums.

Up until mid 00s India had pretty decent test crowds. I remember watching many series on TV with packed crowds. Especially, Kolkata, Chennai and Kanpur. Even when the popularity of tests were declining in other sub continent countries, India had packed crowds. I remember watching the Indo Pak 2004 test series and all tests including Multan and Karachi had empty stadiums. But during the same period with Ind Aus and Ind Pak series, our stadiums would be full.

I think that its since the IPL started, that people are getting enough cricket, that Tests are no longer an attraction.

You're right. Spectator count is definitely better relatively in IND. Not sure about the recent nz series as I didn't watch it.

 

[Sidilicious]

You're right. Spectator count is definitely better relatively in IND. Not sure about the recent nz series as I didn't watch it.

Indore was really good. 80% of the stadium was full for each of the 4 days.

Kanpur and Kolkata had decent crowds. Some days had really crowds, and some days pretty average. Its got to do with the amount of cricket now available to these cities in the form of IPL, ODIs and even local T20s leagues which seem to be doing well.

Thats why the new BCCI policy might work very well. Provide the smaller cities who dont get more than one or two IPL games/ODI a season with a test match. Being a massive nation, we have a lot of such cities.

Using the same principle, when cricket comes back to Pakistan, even test matches ought to be well attended because people have been starved of any form of cricket. After a couple of years, when the interest in tests starts to dwindle, PCB could change focus to smaller towns for tests.

 

[The King of Kings]

Agreed.

Can't blame fans.

Who is going to sit in the heat for 7-8 hours?

what about South African fans who sit for the same amount of time from Day 1 to Day 5

what about the Australian crowd

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

View attachment 70289​

All those lamenting lack of Test match crowds because Pakistan is forced to play away from home, please take a good look at this picture. This is mid-morning in Chittagong, at the ongoing England-Bangladesh Test. The match is brilliantly posed, yet the stands are deserted.

What does this tell us?

One, it demonstrates that Test matches in the subcontinent are followed not from the stands but on television with excellent modern broadcast coverage in the air-conditioned comfort of your own home. We do know there are many eyeballs watching it on TV, otherwise advertising sponsors would not be forthcoming.

Two, it shows there is no reason to pity the lack of international cricket within Pakistan, as the situation would have been no different in Karachi or Lahore.

[Credit to Dr. Saad Shafqat for above]

only option to get crowd in uae is to host indo pak matches.

 

[Sidilicious]

what about South African fans who sit for the same amount of time from Day 1 to Day 5

what about the Australian crowd

In Aus and SA, test cricket is the premiere form of cricket. Not the same in sub con.

In addition, the facilities provided in their stadiums are far superior to what the sub con has to offer. The new Indian stadiums seem to be of similar quality, and they are renovating some of the old ones to provide better facilities, but lets see if India can maintain it.

 

[Sidilicious]

only option to get crowd in uae is to host indo pak matches.

It would work in India. But I doubt it would work in the UAE or even Pakistan.

 

[street cricketer]

The crowd at the last test match at Indore would disagree with this..





Trick is to take cricket to tier 2 cities and less popular venues. Kanpur and Indore had very good crowd, Kolkata was disappointing though. It's unrealistic to expect a full house in Asia on weekdays when people will be working, but you can expect a good attendance on weekends through proper scheduling, shrewd marketing and hosting in venues which attract good crowds and having good stadium facilities. Personally like the way BCCI is marketing the home test season with giving seats to school children, specially abled children and using film stars. Also has done well to introduce test cricket to venues like Indore, Dharmasala and Ranchi and has also been developing the stadium facilities to improve the stadium going experience for fans.

 

[MenInG]

The crowd at the last test match at Indore would disagree with this..

View attachment 70293

View attachment 70292

Trick is to take cricket to tier 2 cities and less popular venues. Kanpur and Indore had very good crowd, Kolkata was disappointing though. It's unrealistic to expect a full house in Asia on weekdays when people will be working, but you can expect a good attendance on weekends through proper scheduling, shrewd marketing and hosting in venues which attract good crowds and having good stadium facilities. Personally like the way BCCI is marketing the home test season with giving seats to school children, specially abled children and using film stars. Also has done well to introduce test cricket to venues like Indore, Dharmasala and Ranchi and has also been developing the stadium facilities to improve the stadium going experience for fans.

This is more of Pakistan problem I believe and will also put to test the theory that UAE is somehow getting less Test crowds as its not being played in Pakistan

We live in a world of Facebook and Twitter where the extent of interest is 140 chars or a like button. Tests are like writing posts on forums

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

In SA, test cricket is the premiere form of cricket

Acha! When was the last time you saw a packed test crowd in SA other than Cape Town?

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

All is not lost in the UAE.

So its been a good few years and the PCB have not been able to crack this.

Let me suggest a few ideas

1. School kids : There are few Pakistan schools in the UAE (Dubai/Sharjah/Abu Dhabi area) - Simply contact local Pakistan schools; offer them transport; bring them to the stadium; give them Tshirts and flags - guaranteed 2000 kids + parents + siblings + families of those kids

2. Set up free transport from all areas in Dubai/Abu Dhabi - offer them a gift pack

Do this a few times and watch people get the idea of watching games etc

Unfortunately this should have been done ages ago - so by this time, people would have been used to watching their team play in the stadium

Unfortunately the organizers seem to interested in distributing free passes for royal, VVVVIP, VIP enclosures and walking around with passes around their necks then doing all this.

The plan sounds good but there are a few things to consider

1. This may end up in increasing the costs.

2. There might be no long-term advantage as the kids won't have enough time later in their lives to watch test cricket.

I'd say the Cricket Board can try to have a partnership with some private school and offer them discounted ticket price or free gate entry maintaining that the logistics remain with the school. Also maybe some corporate deals with certain companies so that they can send their Cricket Enthusiast employees on a day break however all of that is extremely difficult to set in motion.

 

[street cricketer]

This is more of Pakistan problem I believe and will also put to test the theory that UAE is somehow getting less Test crowds as its not being played in Pakistan

We live in a world of Facebook and Twitter where the extent of interest is 140 chars or a like button. Tests are like writing posts on forums

Ha ha..Even before India used to have more crowds in test matches than Pakistan for some reason. The Pakistan vs India ODI series in 2004 had a fantastic atmosphere with excellent crowd support (for both teams), but don't think the test matches drew a similar attendance. In any case, it's a south asian problem in general.

People love going to LOIs in south asia. Test cricket definitely cannot compete with LOI cricket here. But through shrewd strategies, we can get good attendance for test matches as well. If the test matches are exciting, people will definitely come to the stadiums to see their stars in action.

 

[anuk]

test cricket is not a great spectator sport. u are so far away from the action in the middle and there is almost no side attractions to keep u entertained like in other sports. imo it's the worst spectator sport that i've watched live after f1 but at least f1s are a once a year event.

even india with its 1.3 billion population mostly play test cricket in front of 50-60% capacity even during the best times. there really is no reason why every day of a test match in a country like india should not be sold out if people actually cared about it.

 

[street cricketer]

Don't think the UAE will ever get good crowds for test cricket no matter what measures the PCB do. A lot of things go against the favour.

1. Firstly, lack of good attendance is a problem even in Pakistan, so expecting great crowd in the UAE where the Pakistani population is much lesser is difficult.

2. Secondly I'm not sure how is a stadium experience in the UAE. Always hard to sit through in such a hot climate.

3. Finally the wickets and outfield are very dour in the UAE. You get pattas where first 3 to 4 days mostly end up as a snooze fest. For example, the first 3 days of the pink ball test was big yawnfest but the last 2 days were gripping.

Think cricket needs to come back to Pakistan as soon as possible. Next the PCB should make efforts to improve the wickets in Pakistan and stadium facilities and promote test cricket aggressively among the Pak population with things like getting the mace back etc. Also should provide tickets to school children to promote test cricket. PCB should take cricket to less popular venues as well.

 

[Varun]

test cricket is not a great spectator sport. u are so far away from the action in the middle and there is almost no side attractions to keep u entertained like in other sports. imo it's the worst spectator sport that i've watched live after f1 but at least f1s are a once a year event.

F1 is great to watch live, and I've seen plenty of races by now. It helps to have the TV and commentary near you though.

 

[CricketAnalyst]

But a result is likely here! The issue is that good TV coverage is telling people to sit home and enjoy.

If that was true, you wouldn't see people for ODI's either.

This is about the format. This is not about TV vs live.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

india have always had decent crowds for test matches. On weekends, we would have huge crowds even in the big cities.

 

[Saj]

Seems to me that numbers of fans attending Test matches in some countries is dwindling. Difficult to put a finger on why this is the case.

In UAE of course the numbers have always been terrible and surely PCB needs to look to move away from playing cricket there.

 

[Dios]

Asian public want bang for their buck. The working class in the subcontinent work very hard round the clock and have very little leisure time so they are not going to spend their hard-earned money on something that doesn't provide them sufficient entertainment or relief from their troubles.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Acha! When was the last time you saw a packed test crowd in SA other than Cape Town?

Exactly.

I still remember when Kallis played his last ever test match which was at Durban vs India and the crowd numbers were poor.

It was a series decider, it was a Boxing Day test, it was in a city with a huge Indian population, it was the last test match of a legend etc yet still there were so many empty seats.

http://www.iol.co.za/sport/cricket/empty-seats-at-tests-a-concern-1627899

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Problem with test format is it has more fans and less audience & vice versa for ODI/ T20's.

 

[Sherlock]

Cheaper and/or free tickets [to kids under-X] are the best way to go.

 

[Junaids]

I went to the First Test of NZ v Australia at Wellington eight months ago, and each day was sold out. Eight weeks earlier I'd been at the Adelaide Day/Night Test, which attracted 130,000+ spectators.

Half the trick is to use smaller, more spectator-friendly stadia.

 

[Junaids]

Acha! When was the last time you saw a packed test crowd in SA other than Cape Town?

Centurion and PE often get good crowds. Centurion is great because its grassy banks lend themselves to a braai: it's a family picnic day out.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Centurion and PE often get good crowds. Centurion is great because its grassy banks lend themselves to a braai: it's a family picnic day out.

Maybe but SA in general doesn't get good test crowd attendances. As explained by many facilities and amount of cricket given to that city plays a role in some cases but in general it's about having test culture and taste of appreciation for this format.

If test cricket was the only format played, all Cricket boards baring 3 would have gone bankrupt by now.

 

[USofA]

I went to the First Test of NZ v Australia at Wellington eight months ago, and each day was sold out. Eight weeks earlier I'd been at the Adelaide Day/Night Test, which attracted 130,000+ spectators.

Half the trick is to use smaller, more spectator-friendly stadia.

You are talking about places where test cricket is popular. That is not the case in the subcontinent (perhaps excluding India). There is absolute disinterest in the format. It will be very hard to convince the people that test cricket is interesting.

Look at the Pak vs. WI series. Even if half the people on PP who claim that tests are the ultimate, had gone to the stadium there would have been a 100% increase in attendance. But people seem to be fans only on forums. But prefer to watch highlights of the days play, maybe watch a days play out of five in entirety. And there in lies the problem with tests. The ability to hold people attention.

 

[MenInG]

think if you ask the average person that given the choice (number of spare hours at hand) - to watch Test cricket where the result will not happen for a few days or a game which will yield a result in a few hours then the choice would be clear.

A few people let the game develop before going in.

A few like me will sit through all five days at the stadium and marvel/enjoy the skills/tactics without being flustered by the noise/tamasha of ODIs or IT20s

 

[Archer]

Australia, New Zealand, England, and to some extent South Africa get good crowds to some extent. It's just that the people in these countries are willing to spend money to watch some good cricket. Even if means to take a day off of work. They do not care about the scoring rate or the wickets, they are out to enjoy a day out with the family. On the other side, people in the Sub continent do not want to spend their money are actually crazy over sixes and fours and nothing else.

 

[Junaids]

Australia, New Zealand, England, and to some extent South Africa get good crowds to some extent. It's just that the people in these countries are willing to spend money to watch some good cricket. Even if means to take a day off of work. They do not care about the scoring rate or the wickets, they are out to enjoy a day out with the family. On the other side, people in the Sub continent do not want to spend their money are actually crazy over sixes and fours and nothing else.

A large part of it is comfort.

A day Test at Brisbane is as horrible as watching cricket in India: hot, humid and you are packed into seats intended for a two hour long football match.

Test cricket is pleasant in smaller boutique grounds or in the late afternoon and evening.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Australia, New Zealand, England, and to some extent South Africa get good crowds to some extent. It's just that the people in these countries are willing to spend money to watch some good cricket. Even if means to take a day off of work. They do not care about the scoring rate or the wickets, they are out to enjoy a day out with the family. On the other side, people in the Sub continent do not want to spend their money are actually crazy over sixes and fours and nothing else.

Beg to differ. Cricket is a summer sport hence the nations mentioned above get crowds as it's an event to get some tan/ enjoy sun and sit out. Having said all the above IND gets > test attendances to SA n NZ.

I see some 3-5 K people currently in Bdesh test, who have built after lunch/ tea. Temperatures also play a role for sub continent crowds as this format is played only between 10 AM to 5 PM.

 

[EngrOmair]

Living in the Emirates since Birth i would like to put a few issues :

1. Work Commitments: Pakistani's in the Emirates are mostly working as employees to their respected companies and the timing extend from 8AM to 6PM, From Saturday to Thursday.

2. Traffic: Majority Pakistani families reside in Sharjah and Commute to Dubai for their work daily, The rush hour commences on the routes from Dubai To Sharjah from 5PM to 10PM. People tend to reach home rather than going other way around, the more you delay the more longer ques people end up with.

3.Distance: The Dubai Cricket stadium is located in the outskirts of the City on the high Way E311 (Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road) about 30Km-40Km Away from Diera.

4. Broadcast: Quality broadcast and Live scores available on your smartphone is a major reason people don't bother going to the stadium.

5.Summer: Approaching end of October temperatures are still on the rise here with temperature reaching up to 44°C noon time.

You will witness a lot of Pakhtun Community visiting the stadiums as those guys are very limited with their technology and have a lot of affection to the game.

The stadiums are full in limited over games especially on Fridays as Families and individuals head out for a fun night out.

Passion of the games lacks, Kudos to the Stani army from Britain they are doing a tremendous job.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

All is not lost in the UAE.

So its been a good few years and the PCB have not been able to crack this.

Let me suggest a few ideas

1. School kids : There are few Pakistan schools in the UAE (Dubai/Sharjah/Abu Dhabi area) - Simply contact local Pakistan schools; offer them transport; bring them to the stadium; give them Tshirts and flags - guaranteed 2000 kids + parents + siblings + families of those kids

2. Set up free transport from all areas in Dubai/Abu Dhabi - offer them a gift pack

Do this a few times and watch people get the idea of watching games etc

Unfortunately this should have been done ages ago - so by this time, people would have been used to watching their team play in the stadium

Unfortunately the organizers seem to interested in distributing free passes for royal, VVVVIP, VIP enclosures and walking around with passes around their necks then doing all this.

No proper School will let the kids watch cricket instead of attending their School. And what makes you believe they will find test cricket exciting?

It's extremely boring for kids. I remember I did not watch any test cricket when I was 5-15

 

[Mainul]

View attachment 70289​

All those lamenting lack of Test match crowds because Pakistan is forced to play away from home, please take a good look at this picture. This is mid-morning in Chittagong, at the ongoing England-Bangladesh Test. The match is brilliantly posed, yet the stands are deserted.

What does this tell us?

One, it demonstrates that Test matches in the subcontinent are followed not from the stands but on television with excellent modern broadcast coverage in the air-conditioned comfort of your own home. We do know there are many eyeballs watching it on TV, otherwise advertising sponsors would not be forthcoming.

Two, it shows there is no reason to pity the lack of international cricket within Pakistan, as the situation would have been no different in Karachi or Lahore.

[Credit to Dr. Saad Shafqat for above]

I couldn't agree more with you in this regard.If test cricket is brought back in Pakistan, the scenario will be the same.I am a bit disappointed to see those empty seats in Chittagong. It has been a very interesting test match so far but people opted to enjoy it on TV.

 

[anuk]

I couldn't agree more with you in this regard.If test cricket is brought back in Pakistan, the scenario will be the same.I am a bit disappointed to see those empty seats in Chittagong. It has been a very interesting test match so far but people opted to enjoy it on TV.

Are people even watching it on tv? Are there tv ratings available in bangladesh? Nobody in sl watches test matches even on tv.

 

[Hawkeye]

11,000 plus crowd in the Bangla match today.

This can never happen in the UAE for a Test. On holidays or interesting match situations, if a match is held locally, people flock to it.

 

[Couch Cricketer]

Australia used to have a tv coverage blackout in the city that match was played to bolster stadium attendance. But with the international coverage today not possible these days.

 

[MenInG]

No proper School will let the kids watch cricket instead of attending their School. And what makes you believe they will find test cricket exciting?

It's extremely boring for kids. I remember I did not watch any test cricket when I was 5-15

Pakistan schools will

Offer tshirts and chance to meet some pak players and you will fill the ground i can guarantee that

Also schools finish by tea time for Tests

 

[The_Odd_One]

Most people don't have time to watch a game for 7 to 8 hours and that too when not much is going around.

 

[CricFan2012]

Agreed.

Can't blame fans.

Who is going to sit in the heat for 7-8 hours?

Exactly this.

I never understood those fans who watch test cricket for that long. Why would anyone waste 7-8 hours of their life in heat, watching a game where players are playing at a 60 strike rate at most, and where draws are very much possible?

This is the modern era, people dont have time to waste like that anymore, especially when you can easily catch the highlights, or watch on the tv in intervals, and even check cricket scores sites.

Empty stands during test cricket will continue, because face it, test cricket is the most boring sport along with golf, it makes cricket less appealing to foreigners. This is the future.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

People will show up to watch tests when Bangladesh start winning. They watch LOIs because they win.

 

[street cricketer]

What people don't understand here is that people don't go to test cricket just for seeing the nuances of cricket. It's like a day out with the family where you can enjoy some quality time with them along with entertainment. I've went to Chepauk not only to see test matches against Australia, but also as a day out with my friends who share the same passion as me in cricket. It's not like test matches happen regularly and if given a choice, I'll choose going for a test match at Chepauk to see India play along with my friends rather than seeing an IPL game seeing CSK play (that is after they come back). Also IPL tickets can be very expensive unlike test matches which is also an advantage.

Most people come to see test cricket in England, Australia or South Africa as a day out or a carnival. Not because they have "no work for 7-8 hours".

 

[SL_Fan]

Not many in for today's game.

 

[anuk]

nobody watches test cricket. it's a dead format propped up by money from t20s and odis.

 

[coy0607]

What people don't understand here is that people don't go to test cricket just for seeing the nuances of cricket. It's like a day out with the family where you can enjoy some quality time with them along with entertainment. I've went to Chepauk not only to see test matches against Australia, but also as a day out with my friends who share the same passion as me in cricket. It's not like test matches happen regularly and if given a choice, I'll choose going for a test match at Chepauk to see India play along with my friends rather than seeing an IPL game seeing CSK play (that is after they come back). Also IPL tickets can be very expensive unlike test matches which is also an advantage.

Most people come to see test cricket in England, Australia or South Africa as a day out or a carnival. Not because they have "no work for 7-8 hours".

sitting in the stands for 8 hours a day = a day at the carnival??

those must be some might slow carnivals you're going to

the fact is, test cricket is enjoyable is bursts (specific sessions, last days...), its totally unpractical to expect people to start watching at 10am on the first day

 

[Couch Cricketer]

In most of the western countries watching test cricket is also about wearing weird costumes having a day out drinking with your friends enjoying bar b que that will never translate to Asian countries in terms of crowds.

 

[cricket.mad]

Good crowd today at vizag. .

 

[street cricketer]

sitting in the stands for 8 hours a day = a day at the carnival??

those must be some might slow carnivals you're going to

the fact is, test cricket is enjoyable is bursts (specific sessions, last days...), its totally unpractical to expect people to start watching at 10am on the first day

I understand different people have different tastes and know it is a bit difficult to spend a whole day at test cricket in this fast age. But cricket is something I enjoy the most and if I have an off day, I wouldn't mind spending that day watching test cricket with cola and some pop corn to munch, along with my friends.

Furthermore watching any form of cricket at the stadium in India is an experience to behold because of the crazy atmosphere and one wouldn't necessarily realise it on TV unless he actually experiences it. Yeah, you can't watch it for full five days but spending a day isn't really that difficult.

 

[jeetu]

Most times crows depends on home team position. If there is a chance of home team domination then crowd gets larger.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Good crowd today at vizag. .

I'm not their biggest fan however the BCCI's policy of taking test cricket to new venues is a great one and really helps with crowd numbers imo.

 

[Sanzcool]

Vizag has a free entry, hence good crowd. They have sponsored 5000 kids from different schools, hence the noise.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

It's a 'test match ' problem.and people don't have so much time in this fast pace era.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I seriously doubt that popularity would increase if tests are reduced to 4 day matches. And I think it would actually decrease since that would result in more draws.

 

[MenInG]

Same situation in India today - so is this still a UAE problem?

 

[cricket.mad]

Same situation in India today - so is this still a UAE problem?

In UAE it's an everyday, every test match problem. .I don't guess that is the problem in india

Some odd days it happens. .it's day 1 and expect more crowds

 

[Junaids]

102,000 so far at Adelaide.

Australia's all-time non-Ashes, non-Boxing Day record is around 130,000 - and we still have two days to go.

 

[Indiafan]

Same situation in India today - so is this still a UAE problem?

This is because of the note ban else Mohali generally has a full crowd every time

 

[street cricketer]

This is because of the note ban else Mohali generally has a full crowd every time

Mohali hardly ever has a crowd for test matches. It is the LOIs they fill up...

 

[MenInG]

The Ashes lost its lustre or people not coming to watch Tests?

 

[Giannis]

The Ashes lost its lustre or people not coming to watch Tests?

There are pandemic restrictions in Australia. Most countries average good turnout numbers in international sports, Pakistan is one of the few countries that has always been abominable attendance records predating COVID and the war on terror, it's a culture problem.

 

[Savak]

The Ashes lost its lustre or people not coming to watch Tests?

Do you blame them given England's showing in this Ashes series?

 

[Buffet]

The Ashes lost its lustre or people not coming to watch Tests?

Is this picture after the series was already done by 3-0 or when the series was live?

 

[wrongun]

The Ashes lost its lustre or people not coming to watch Tests?

A few reasons- 1) Day 5 isn't really in most peoples planning. They don't pre-sell tickets for it, for example. So if you are planning a day at the cricket, you plan another day.

2) There's also the chance it's all over in 40 minutes, so some people avoid going for what they see as just half a days cricket at best (not the way I think, but many do).

3) Rain about.

4) Surging covid numbers. NSW recording quite enormous covid numbers. Per capita about as bad an outbreak as Europe at it's height. So there's the feeling that if you go to the cricket, you WILL get it.

A lot of people aren't too concerned about getting it themselves, but the thought of then giving it to someone vulnerable is quite sobering.

5) Fairly meek showing by England and no travelling Barmies. Might be a bit better attended despite all the other factors if the series was alive.

 

[Gilly]

462,203 people have attended this ashes series so far.