TOPIC:

mikeh wrote:

Depressing news this morning that several experienced West Indies players including Jason Holder have withdrawn from the 2 test tour of Australia so that they can concentrate on the upcoming T20 world cup in the US and the Windies. This coming on top of the IPL meat market the other day when Starc and Cummins were bought for millions.

I am not optimistic about the future of test cricket apart from games between the big three as players will be tempted more by the lucrative and growing T20 leagues around the world. We also have the variations of the Hundred in England and also 10 over competitions sprouting up in different places. More than enough cricket for any aspiring young player to make a good living and travel around the globe. Why would people choose to commit themselves to 5 day tests if they can represent their country in the shorter forms and earn a lot more income?
 
Unless there are dramatic changes in the future I can test cricket, apart from clashes between England, Australia and India being reduced to a curiosity which will be played in front of miniscule crowds like the Sheffield Shield is now.

Whole things on life support , even last years Boxing Day Ashes test only pulled 60 odd thousand well below expectations.

The last Boxing Day Ashes Test was in 2021/22 not last year and VIC was still in the throws of Covid limitations, there would have hardly been any of the Barmy Army Poms come out to Australia!
Only got 60,000 sheesh I know a lot of sports who would kill for that type of crowd number on one day!

Melbourne's wacky weather has 20mm of rain ,xmas day.Interesting to see if that affects the boxing day start.

Beasley Hutton wrote:

The last Boxing Day Ashes Test was in 2021/22 not last year and VIC was still in the throws of Covid limitations, there would have hardly been any of the Barmy Army Poms come out to Australia!
Only got 60,000 sheesh I know a lot of sports who would kill for that type of crowd number on one day!


 

Nah well below the 80k expected.

Meanwhile - Matildas selling out Stadia coast to coast

gtrxuone wrote:

Melbourne's wacky weather has 20mm of rain ,xmas day.Interesting to see if that affects the boxing day start.

Boxing Day test is pretty much like Foundation Day Derbies in WAFL, it's more about the event socialising and being seen to be there on the day than the actual sport, they sell tickets as the thing to you "gotta do" and say you have been too. Half of them never go to a cricket game again.