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Stay at home if you want to bag Tasmania, the state’s cricket boss has declared, following criticism of crowds for the Bellerive Test.
Cricket Tasmania chairman Tony Harrison has taken a swipe at mainland media who he says have belittled the island state.
Harrison appeared to be referring to the ABC radio commentary team when he said he was upset by comments from the media.
“I’m a bit disappointed with some of the comments I’ve heard on the radio in the last two days, not only critical of the crowds but they’re critical of Tasmania,” he told reporters at Bellerive.
“What I’d say to the commentators that do that – if you don’t like Tasmania don’t come here.”
Harrison described as “ridiculous” the suggestion that Hobart could lose its Test match because of poor crowds.
The Bellerive Test has again been played against a backdrop of empty stands and a sparse hill population, just 14,419 turning up for the three days against Sri Lanka.
That included just 6221 on day one, when local hero Ricky Ponting was farewelled from international cricket.
Last year, just 16,525 turned up for the three-day thriller against New Zealand.
The past two Tests at the venue have averaged just 5157 per day.
But Harrison insists Hobart is in no danger of losing its fixture whenever a six-Test summer rolls around.
“I think that’s a ridiculous suggestion,” he said.
“That is nonsense.
“We are one of the owners of Cricket Australia and Cricket Australia has a philosophy in its programming to spread the game around the country.
“Our Test matches … are not in question, not in doubt.”
There has been speculation that Canberra and Newcastle could put their hands up to host international matches, and Harrison conceded their were no guarantees about the long-term future.
He admitted he was disappointed with the figures, but said scheduling and weather were issues.
He said the $38 asking price for a seat on the hill might be too much in a state with the country’s highest unemployment rate.
“I guess given the economic circumstances and the pressures of Christmas for a lot of families it could be,” he said.
Contrasting with the poor Test crowds is the runaway success of the Big Bash League’s Hobart Hurricanes who, at $50 for a general admission family ticket, averaged 12,108 at Bellerive last season.
Harrison said CT needed to foster a Test match culture in Tasmania.
“People in Melbourne know on Boxing Day you go to the Boxing Day Test,” he said.
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