The stark image of the MCG’s Great Southern Stand shut for lack of interest during Friday night’s T20 international between Australia and Sri Lanka has sparked a debate over what’s to blame for the apparent apathy for the current series.
Cricket remains a robust draw – a million-plus fans have gone through the turnstiles in a summer where England were outclassed and New Zealand failed to front for their ODIs – but the T20 competition has proven a stinker when it comes to ticket sales.
On a night when Melbourne saw a relaxation of crowd restrictions that had been in place due to Covid, just 13,275 fans rolled up. Reporters at the ground placed the Sri Lankan fans amongst them of 75 percent – so less than 4000 supporters turned up to cheer the hosts.
There is no doubt, judging by social media at least, that the team has slipped in the eyes of many fans in recent weeks, with the fallout over Justin langer’s removal from the head coaching role.
Reports that Pat Cummins, David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Andrew McDonald met at a Hobart pub during the fifth Ashes Test to discuss their preference for Trevor Bayliss to take over – intriguingly whilst sat next to a table of English journalists – has only left more bitterness in the legion of JL supporters.
The turnout was the lowest attendance ever for a men’s T20 international at the MCG, and stars such as as Cummins, Starc, Warner, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh were all absent.
Glenn Maxwell’s theory is that the numbers have been affected by Covid hesitancy, rather than a loss of appetite for the format.
“I did notice that when I came out for the warm-up, it was probably the first time for an international game I’ve seen that,” Maxwell said of the closure of the Great Southern Stand.
“You can understand why people are staying at home.
“We’ve had a pandemic going on for two full years now and people are still probably a bit wary of going out.
“With the end (of Covid) hopefully so close to being in sight, hopefully people can get the confidence to come out and enjoy a good show out there.”
(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
The loss of the NZ series may have caused a gap in the schedule too far to bridge for some fans. The Australian Open had clean air and with footy about to fire up, momentum in the international game was lost.
Then there’s the argument that T20 is more palatable as a franchise competition rather than an international contest, other than at World Cup time.
But the BBL was also in decline this season, with many, including some players concerned that the season was too long as attendances and TV ratings drifted lower.
This season the MCG experienced its lowest ever crowd for a BBL match for a double header of Stars v Strikers and Hurricanes v Thunder with just 5,802 attending.
A review is underway into how to best address the crowd issues in the BBL, and the competition’s general manager Alistair Dobson told SEN last month that Covid was a major factor at play.
“I think we’re all dealing with a new era if you like, in terms of understanding kids and families, who are the heartbeat of the BBL, and their willingness to go to big public events at the moment is a factor in that,” Dobson said.
“Equally having to shift some schedules around and some matches around at pretty short notice all have an impact.”
He added the league would listen to player views on the length of season.
“It’s clearly a topic of discussion every year, and I think this year probably feels as long as any season given what everyone’s had to go through, players being away from home and being under pretty strict protocols certainly makes it feel longer,” Dobson said.
“The reality is it’s a 46-day season, it’s certainly not as long as some other sporting leagues, but that said, each year it’s about trying to find the right mix of how long it is, how many nights we can play, working in and around the Test season.
“But we hear the commentary and discussion and we take that onboard.”
But there are many who believe the concept of T20 may have peaked in terms of fan sentiment, although the World Cup later this year will be a true test.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
The perception around T20 killing Test Cricket is BS . If anything the opposite is true. The hit and giggle brigade are simply trying to fulfill a self confessed prophecy. The almost orgasmic enthusiasm that crickets administrators have pumped ( excuse the comparison ) increasing T20 series in the name of growing the game and of course bank accounts is not backed by reality . We love T20 , we love ODIs , but if you don’t understand that the only future of cricket is Test cricket then go get a job elsewhere. It doesn’t even need protecting . T20 through stupid greed and overexposure does .
The good thing about T20 cricket is it reminds us how darn good Test Cricket is at the moment, and how good we had it when 50 over cricket ruled the the white ball part of the calendar, with the Tri-Series a great way to finish off the season by early to mid Feb. It surely won't take much longer for the penny to drop with administrators and media magnates -- no one gives a flying FiretrUCK about T20 cricket - it will be dead internationally within five years, and only played as a Domestic game with world stars invited, such as IPL and Big Bash. And that is where this crud belongs.
Rav
Guest
The problem here largely is the current Broadcasting deal, which I believe to be one of the the most disgraceful thing to happen to cricket in Australia. You can’t paywall a game the way that you did and expect numbers like what they were when Sri Lankan toured here in 2017, where 42,000+ rocked up to the MCG. I hope CA looks past this blatantly corrupt deal and come to there senses at the next rights negotiation and put both international white ball formats back onto FTA if it wants fans and crowds back. I get yeah you can blame a little bit on covid but look at the overall participation and consensus about the game since this deal came into play. Viewership is badly down and cricket just isn’t considered what it was
HR
Roar Rookie
17.5K for the fifth match vs 13K for the fourth match, based on the reported crowd numbers. So the crowd was proportionally larger (whether either number is strictly accurate is another question).
John66
Roar Rookie
It seems there are a few possible reasons. I just assumed it was because it's a dumbed -down version of the game that should be used domestically to get bums on seats and never see the light of day on the international stage. No chance it could compete with the shield games or replays of the curling.
Chufortah
Guest
I’ve read the comments now - and one factor raised that I overlooked is definitely the scheduling and pricing. I call it the Waratah effect - playing to large empty stadiums… then I would much rather pay my $10 a cricket (or nothing) game (the cricket would cost around $300 for my family to go to an Aussie game - living regionally add $60 for tolls and $80 for petrol) and the local content free from commercial BS. Short-sighted stupidity from CA - it makes my blood boil that my culture growing up can be sold the highest bidder - I’m not surprised, things change but my kids are barely interested in cricket so short term gain over long term incremental gains to suit the current boss’ remuneration packaged and 3-4 years in the game. Australian sports administration (except maybe the AFL) all sing from the same book of crass commercialism, over nurturing. How did we get here? Imagine Sri Lanka v Australia at Bradman Oval? You would have a small cross but the atmosphere would be amazing and the kids would want to play cricket.
Chufortah
Guest
It’s called the Bastardisation of all things sacred for $$$. The Big Bash saturates us, we get used to the background cricket, then a test match or two, then that’s it. Then our international team steps up and we’re too fatigued so any scheduling issues will break the camel’s back. That combined with selling out our National teams to the highest bidder (there is a reason Murdoch loves the LNP), and cricket is very sick. Australian rugby ‘sick’.
Jim Prideaux
Roar Rookie
Jeff, I understand how you feel, I watched SR and AFL all last year, and the year before and was plenty annoyed when crowds didn’t show - what I’d have given to be there. Whilst it may been mentioned in the rags, there’s been no build up over here - the AFLW and the AFL intraclub matches are rating more of a mention, hell, the figure skating is too. I genuinely had no idea it was even on, people who live in east Melbourne next to the ground were asking the parking guards what’s going on. Yup, decentralisation of some of these lesser games is a brilliant idea, Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong would all be much better locations. Also, create some build up, who’s playing, who’s not? What’s on the line etc. Tge t20’s just seem so tacked on.
Clear as mud
Guest
And Erin Phillips
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Looks like a sub-10k crowd today. Always a bit hard to tell with the MCG
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Fair enough Jim. My response probably came across more terse than intended. I guess if an international fixture was in Perth - leaving aside the covid situations last two seasons - it would seem unfathomable to me that cricket fans wouldn't know the matches were on. Whilst I appreciate Melbourne has a large population and is known for loving their sport, is it possibly the case of too much sport in Melbourne? I'd be keen to see CA decentralise matches somewhat to regional centres. India's a different geographic set up to Australia, but I like the way they rotate matches across 20+ grounds.
Jim Prideaux
Roar Rookie
It may well have been, I’m just saying I didn’t notice it. Having just walked the dog through Yarra park, I reckon the crowd for the originally scheduled game is a fair bit better. My point was, if i, who keeps a close eye on the cricket, and subscribes to the Hun, Age and reads the guardian didn’t even know it was on, then it’s unsurprising that the crowd was low. Others here have voiced similar opinions. You seem to disagree, so, cool I suppose - you know cricket fixtures better I guess. Had a pint with a colleague this afternoon who follows cricket even closer than I do, he was unaware it was on until he stepped into the pub on Friday.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
A quick Google will show that it was previewed in the Herald Sun, The Age and on SEN.
matth
Roar Guru
Plus they’d be laying full rack rate for that advertising for a dubious return
matth
Roar Guru
Particularly once it was 3-0
Jim Prideaux
Roar Rookie
I’m one who had no idea it was on. I don’t pencil the whole schedule for the summer in on the calendar, particularly not T20I’s, not to mention that this game was rescheduled from a different venue in a different state. I walk past the MCG every morning on the way to work, listen to SEN and read 3 local rags and had no idea this match was on.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
My other comment dissapeared. All the excuses and all missing the point. T20 is not sport, it's one big advert, all the dancing girls and flashing lights, it's just fluff. Cricket is not like other codes, it's not particularly physical, the skill is in other areas, concentration, endurance, hand to eye coordination, courage and determination. T20 is to short, these traits are not really needed, the tracks are flat like concrete and the players aren't elite sportspeople bar a couple from each team. If they treated it like an actual sport, took the mikes off the players, turned the tunes down a bit and made it far more bowler friendly then maybe, it might work, but 10 batters on a flat pitch for 20 overs? Where's the challenge? games are decided in the first over of the second innings sometimes others a wicket isn't taken for a full game, it can be very boring. I was spewing when I found out New Zealand weren't coming, but I had to go looking for that info, and I'm on sports sites every day, how did I not know this? This big bash needs to be moved from outside the prime window, start it the week after footy finishes, because the last few years, the cricket season just stops for me after the first test series until the one dayers, by then the footy pre-season is starting and I've lost interest, I have Foxtel so the pay wall isn't an issue for me. Keep the Nov to Jan months for international test and one day games, no int T20's at all, no one cares, T20 should be a domestic comp only thing and it should be cheap to attend, so they get the kids and families in. Cricket is far to expensive to attend, one day of the ashes this year cost me $150 for the ticket alone! Cricket worldwide is stuffed because of the big three and their greed, cutting the world cup back to ten teams, not touring to smaller countries etc They've opened the door for other codes here in Oz and I fear it might be too late
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
It's because it's a crap game with no soul. Cricket isn't like Footy or Soccer or Rugby, it's not a super physical game, the skill is in the concentration, the variable pitches, the swinging ball, the courage after getting hit to get back into it, how you regain your composure and concentration again. This flat track dancing girl rubbish has none of that. It was never going to work, it's just one big Ad. Maybe, maybe, if they pissed all the lights and blaring music off and concentrated on it being a legitimate sport, make every pitch a green monster or a raging Bunsen burner it might have a chance, but I doubt it. I couldn't give a toss if some backyard cricketer can hit a six off the flattest track in world cricket, on my day I can hit a pretty handy long ball, doesn't mean I'm an international cricketer.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Presumably it’s a combination of end-of-season fatigue, Covid, Sri Lanka being seen as weak/uninteresting, resting of some big names, lack of promotion in FTA TV and in the media generally. Probably close to zero to do with Langer. Not sure Sri Lankan-Australians would be thrilled about the third paragraph, implying that they are not normal supporters. They would be mostly Australian residents, with a few longer term students thrown in, very few if any visitors from SL at the moment.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Agree overall, though there would be some benefit for Fox in having big crowds there, as the televised product would be more interesting and attractive to viewers. But as they don’t have advertising during the cricket, there would only be marginal benefit in advertising outside the network, beyond puffing it up through normal media stories and social media.