Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland could see something was clearly wrong as he stared out at the MCG on Friday.
Two of the best sides in the world were in action on a perfect day, but empty seats abounded at the nation’s sporting colosseum.
“This is not a good crowd and it’s not something we’re terribly happy about,” Sutherland admitted.
“We would have hoped for a few more.”
The final figure was 14,177.
It surpassed the 12,077 that turned up in 1979 to watch England against Australia – the lowest attendance for a one-day international in Melbourne involving Australia.
Many reasons have been floated for the sparse crowds on offer for the first stages of a marathon 2014-15 season that ends with the World Cup final in March.
It could be the fact games are being played in November, perhaps it’s fans saving their money and attention for the tournament Australia co-hosts next year.
Ticket prices have also been criticised, while some have questioned why the white-ball action has been squeezed in before the four-Test series against India.
Sutherland, previously relatively upbeat about the modest attendances for the limited-overs series between Australia and South Africa, vowed CA would find answers.
“We need to understand a little bit more. It’s an unconventional time of the year for us to be playing (in Australia), but at the same time there’s a lot more to it,” he said.
“We’ll do our own assessments.
“I don’t think it’s an overload issue … I’d be very, very surprised if this is a ticket-price issue.
“But I don’t want to be caught providing specific reasons without us doing our own research to properly understand it, which we will.”
Friday was the third time the MCG hosted a one-day international in November, with the two previous games pulling in an average of 19,990 fans.
Sutherland conceded the World Cup had tied CA’s hands when it came to scheduling.
“We are sacrificing Test cricket a little bit, only playing four Tests instead of the traditional six,” he said.
“Part of that is about providing our players with the best possible preparation leading up to the World Cup.”
Over 500,000 tickets to the World Cup have been sold already, while an average audience of 1.3 million has watched each game in the ongoing series.
Limited overs crowds for Australia vs South Africa in 2014
*26,370 at Adelaide Oval for T20
*21,415 at MCG for T20
*24,187 at ANZ Stadium for T20
*9322 and 10,956 at the WACA Ground for ODIs
*10,583 at Manuka Oval for ODI
*14,177 at MCG for ODI
ODIs at MCG in November
*14,177 for South Africa v Australia in 2014
*19,309 for Sri Lanka v Australia in 2010
*20,671 for Pakistan v Australia in 1981.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Yes. The working week has actually decreased over time... We also live longer too... Are people too impatient now? Perhaps, but they've got more time than ever...
JustAnotherPunter
Guest
I concur.
James
Guest
Ticket prices need to be sorted out. Scheduling needs to be sorted, is a Friday arvo start in November really a good idea when most of the city is at work or in school when play starts? The soccer got a bigger crowd purely because it's more convenient, kick off at 7.45 and games ends at 9.30..it's just far spectator friendly. The product of the cricket is fine, the tv ratings are enormous so the sport itself is not the issue.
matthew_gently
Guest
"I don’t think it’s an overload issue". But it is. Times have changed. Outside the World Cup, ODIs don't capture the imagination of the Australian public like they used to. Personally, I haven't attended an ODI since 2000, when I paid good money to watch a game that was effectively over in 20 minutes (check out the scorecard: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65590.html). I'll always consider cricket my first sport but, if I lived in Melbourne, last night I would've been at the A-League.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Australian sports fans are a discerning bunch meaning they will not pay top dollar to see a game that has a meaningless air about it. as underlined by Australia rotating and resting their best players in and out
Renegade
Roar Guru
I think most fans are hanging out for the World Cup.... That's certainly going to be a meaningful contest then these trial matches. We shouldn't have such a long schedule in a World Cup year.... The public will be burnt out of cricket by the end. Should have just been the four tests and 5 one dayers against India and then straight into the the tournament that matters the most.
matthew_gently
Guest
Well said.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
They could always try the radical step of scheduling games in such a way that people with jobs (you know, those with enough disposable income to afford tickets) could actually see the whole game. The T20 matches got fairly good crowds because you can actually finish work, get some food, and be at the game for a 7:30 start pretty easily. With an ODI on a weekday you have to rush from work to even see the start of the second innings. It's just far too much hassle and expense to see half a game, a game that may be all over bar some shouting by that point anyway. If the game was on a Saturday (even a day game) I think the crowd would've been 25k+ quite easily.
Lancey5times
Guest
The traditional 6 tests? What sport is he watching? At times yes. Traditional no. CA vs TA. Which organization is better. Like watching two rugby league players box.
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi all - for me, it's simple. Finite cash. People can't justify expenses for $30-$50 a pop each week or two for the whole summer. I go to one day of cricket - either an ODI or a day of a Test - usually. Just to be there, say I've been part of the action live at the ground. The rest I watch on telly. I am booked this summer for a World Cup game in Adelaide. In March. And I think it was a big error to (a) play ODIs in November in itself instead of the Tests (shouldn't we be at the Gabba by now?) and (b) of course in a World Cup summer some will indeed save their pennies to attend that. Each venue has a few international games this season and not many I'd say could go to every single one even within their own state. I thought it was nice to see Perth actually open the series in itself as a double-header (the crowd figures seemed just about right given the venue, early season start and that these do really feel like World Cup warm-ups). Shock, gasp as to how the public will respond to the truncated-version World Series still to come in Jan/Feb (AUS/ENG/IND) before the Cup. And the Melbourne-Brisbane A-League game got more through the gates... So, as a cricket fanatic, I think there's probably too much played that's devoid of meaning, particularly this summer. I'd rather have seen more Matador Cup action and Shield by this stage. The Big Bash (love it or not) is holiday entertainment, well placed in Dec/Jan), but why not revive the annual AUS-NZL Chappell-Hadlee Trophy ODIs (three games) now instead of five vSAF? Just a suggestion. Or, play two Tests against South Africa (or even New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh...?) to lead into the India series. It just seems rather odd to have a string of ODI contests, three months before the Cup, then Tests, then more ODIs. What does SAF do in the meantime? I am not aware of any more internationals for them ahead of the World Cup... And remember what happened in 1991/92? Burnout? Australia played the full 15-game World Series in Jan/Feb, lost to IND and WIN and failed to make the final, lost the Cup opener at the Septagon (i.e Eden Park) and it kinda went downhill from there... Too much of a good thing, Cricket Australia? Or just too much at the wrong time? (and price range?)
josh
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure what CA are complaining about? They (CA) have set up competing interests, and this summer really caps it off. An ODI series b South Africa, A test series v India and tri-series with India and England. Then a World Cup! That is 4 events in as many months. People only have so much disposable income to spend. Even if cricket is your preferred sport to attend. You can't go to every single game. People make sacrifices. Personally, I'd rather attend the Big Bash and the World Cup. the rest i'll watch on TV.
Duncan
Guest
Living in Brisbane I've got used to sub ten thousand crowds for tests and one dayers but you don't expect it in Melbourne or Sydney.
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
Scheduling in Perth put TV ratings over attendance so they got what they deserved there. The big A-League game in Melbourne last night would have had a small effect. But the main problem is cost. It’s a game of cricket, not an event and $50 for the cheap seats is way to much. I like to sit behind the stumps which costs more. And I like to move around throughout the game but a GA ticket will only give you access to an increasingly limited section of the ground, even though it’s empty. And I don’t want to drink mid strength beer!
Shortfineleg
Guest
Fans didn't get the memo from Sutherland demanding their attendance.
Brian
Guest
I wonder how many your MCC members who get in for free. There may have been less then 10,000 actually paying. Timmuh right these are practice games in football they're called international friendlies. Your hardcore supporters are more interested in Tests and the World Cup. The rest would much rather go to a BBL match which will be quicker and cheaper. I've got my WC Final tickets. Would be interested to know how many tickets they've sold for it.
Bondy
Guest
Do people have the time for a sport that goes for about 6 hours in modern times.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
It is hard to get interesed in what are nothing more than practice matches. And there's another big set of practice matches for the WC to come in January. The series is utterly devoid of context other than individual performance, and in reality just hinders the more important matter of getting players ready for a Test series. Hopefully this will be the last time we see this sort of tacked on series, and players will get a chance to play First Class cricket to prepare for Tests every summer from now on.
Chris
Guest
1. Drop ticket prices. 2. Stop treating patrons like criminals.
Andrew
Guest
It says a lot when that MCG crowd last night was the biggest out of this ODI series and yet still smaller than every AFL game played at the MCG this past year, and 10k less than an A-league game played on the same night
JGK
Roar Guru
Hilarious that CA are complaining about the crowd when they are the one's to set the ticket prices.