- There were plenty of empty seats at the SCG
- Australia played the West Indies in an ODI
- But the ‘expensive’ ticket prices kept fans away
Australian cricket fans have driven up ‘insane’ ticket prices as an abundance of empty seats were spotted at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
The world champions fielded a new side as they look to complete a series victory over the West Indies in Sydney after winning the first match in Melbourne by eight wickets on Friday.
But Aussie fans were clearly in no mood to cheer on their team, with an unmistakable sea of empty seats in sight at the SCG.
A sea of empty seats at the SCG painted a grim reality for Australia’s cricket bosses
Fans opted not to attend the Sydney Cricket Ground for Sunday’s ODI match
With ‘A Reserve’ tickets costing $130 per person, it was no surprise that fans were unwilling to attend the game.
“This is exactly why the cricket crowd isn’t this big every day and the reason why people wonder why attendance is low on day 3, 4 of a Test,” said one fan. ‘It’s a total rip-off.’
“Those ticket prices are insane, but why is that even in Sydney?!” said another fan. ‘Play it in Hobart or Canberra. Cricket Australia’s policy is appalling.’
A third fan said: ‘Get a better view of the TV and more atmosphere at home.’
West Indies had a chance to replicate their upset win from last month’s second Test when they won the toss to send Australia to 4-89 by the 16th on Sunday.
But No. 8 Sean Abbott pulled the hosts back from the brink with the best score of his international career, scoring 69 off 63 balls.
On a wicket that assisted the Windies’ spinners, the 31-year-old propelled Australia to 9-258 in front of 20,025 fans – a slightly healthier crowd than that at the sparsely attended MCG series opener.
Bowling all-rounder Abbott (3-40) played a similar role after the innings break, as Australia bowled the West Indies for 175 in the 44th over of an innings that was painfully slow at times.
West Indies fell to 3-34 after a full-length ball from Abbott set up a lead from Kjorn Ottley (8), who was brought on after the tourists struggled with the bat at the MCG.
Keacy Carty (40), West Indies’ danger man at the MCG, fell in similar fashion to become Abbott’s second scalp.
Abbott took two catches on the run – neither was a sitter – to help send opener Alick Athanaze (11) and then Romario Shepherd (6).
After the second of those catches, Australia were on the West Indies’ tail on their way to victory.
Speedy veteran Josh Hazlewood (3-43), called up for the second match of the series, was effective in his first ODI since last year’s World Cup win.
He broke the only significant partnership of the West Indies innings, a 53-run stand between captain Shai Hope and Carty, when he bowled the former with an in-swinger that bounced off stump.
On his debut, lanky all-rounder Will Sutherland won 2-28.
The only sour note for Australia came as Matt Short, who scored a handy 41, was unable to play in the field due to a tight hamstring.