Shock figures reveal which Aussie city is in danger of losing its cricket Test matches
- The traditional host may lose the right to host Test matches
- Follows the very poor visitor numbers in recent years
- Projected figures until 2028 revealed the grim reality
Perth could lose the right to host Tests during the Australian cricket summer if attendances do not improve in the coming years.
The development follows projected figures which showed Perth is expected to generate millions of dollars less from Tests for Cricket Australia than Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide until 2028.
Melbourne's Boxing Day Test and Sydney's New Year's Test are expected to generate $32 million and $27 million respectively over the next five years, while Adelaide will bring in more than $20 million.
In contrast, Perth lags far behind with just $10 million.
The grim financial forecast also follows poor attendances over the four days against Pakistan in the first Test at Optus Stadium in Perth, with day two being the best in terms of numbers – with just 17,666 fans making their way through the gates.
The capacity of the ground is approximately 55,000.
David Warner plundered a century in the first Test against Pakistan in Perth – but not many fans saw the feat in real life
Nathan Lyon took his 500th Test wicket in front of a meager crowd at the Perth Stadium
Numerous cricket journalists took to social media to report the dismal attendance, while former Australian player Simon O'Donnell also criticized the attendance, saying 'their attendance is deplorable.'
Other reasons why supporters have stayed away from the live action include the rise of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the perception in some quarters that the Australian team – led by fast bowler Pat Cummins – is 'woke'.
Some supporters have not forgotten the events from Cape Town in 2018, which led to lengthy bans for David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft due to 'Sandpapergate'.
The worrying figures in Perth have meant Adelaide is now emerging as an alternative capital to host the pre-Christmas Test – and the state's Premier Peter Malinauskas wants the sporting dream to become a reality.
According to the Sydney Morning HeraldAdelaide would have netted Cricket Australia another $10 million below expected figures had the governing body agreed to extend a deal with Adelaide Oval's Stadium Management Authority, which was established in 2014.
It included a payment to CA of nearly $2 million per year in exchange for preferential scheduling in and around mid-December each year – but the deal expired earlier this year.
Instead, the City of Churches will host the first Test when the West Indies visit Australian shores in January.
Four diehard supporters (pictured) showed how barren the Optus Stadium was during the first test against Pakistan in Perth
Captain Pat Cummins is known for his support of social causes and has been branded 'woke' by some of his critics
The Boxing Day Test in Melbourne is a bucket list event for many Australian sports fans
Meanwhile, MCC boss Stuart Fox has predicted crowds of up to 130,000 for the first two days of the Boxing Day Test amid concerns about interest in the wake of Perth's appalling attendance.
Fox also stated that curator Matt Page would not hold an MCG pitch that 'cracks and opens badly' after criticism of the 'volatile' Optus Stadium wicket that quickly deteriorated and led to several Australian batters taking hits on the hands and body.
Pakistan scored just 89 runs in the second innings as the home side romped to a 360-run win, raising questions about the enthusiasm for Test cricket in Perth and watching teams not from India or England.
Fox is confident Melbourne will be buzzing with enthusiastic fans on December 26.
“I think the tradition and history of the MCG, we've had 155 Test matches since 1877, there's so much history, people turn up,” he said.
“Day one you would want to push over 70,000, day two 60,000. I still think we can have very strong numbers for Pakistan.
'It will be a very special atmosphere on day one at the MCG.'