CA will be hoping there’s a good (30k at least) crowd for the Third Test at the SCG in Sydney come Janurary.
I wonder what today/tonight’s crowd for the ODI is?
Because it’ll look embarrasing with an AFL game getting more than 60k at ANZ Stadium this year…
Are you suggesting that Sydney should move it’s cricket from the SCG to ANZ Stadium? That’s never going to happen.
No, of course not.
I am of the view that Cricket outside of VIC & South Australia is going backwards though (both in terms of crowds & TV ratings).
Perhaps on the back of the BBL?
Brilliant article (which I agree with) from The Age associate editor & veteran sport writer Greg Baum, regarding cricket’s dire crowds: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/crickets-mary-celeste-sails-on-20161205-gt4icz.html
You should see what it’s like in the UAE (where Pakistan play nowadays)! Haha, there are more players than spectators during the test matches.
Maybe Cricket Australia should make tickets cheaper.
They’ve already done that this season though
Have they? I still think they are quite expensive. Well the Adelaide Test seemed to be hence why I didn’t go.
My Ideas for cricket schedules in Australia;
Well there will only be 5 tests, 5 ODIs and 3 T20s next summer since the Poms are coming.
Great story about the potential for Christmas Day cricket 
I’ll be surprised if that happens… really surprised.
I remember in 2014, NZ was playing Pakistan in a Test match in the UAE on Christmas Day, but then that being a Muslim country, that was as close as I thought we’ll be seeing an international match on 25th Dec.
A Big Bash game on that evening is a small possibility I suppose.
CA’s executive of the BBL was speaking to the media at the MCG today, pretty much ruling out a Christmas Day game in Melbourne (or at least at the 'G, due to the Boxing Day test).
I also think it’d be unfair that one city hosts Christmas Day & Boxing Day cricket.
Unfair in what way?
It would be an attendance disaster. Possibly unfair because it would be too hard to get the match and ground prepared in time on two public holidays? I would say it would be a disadvantage having the Christmas Big Bash game.
If it would work anywhere though I think it would be Adelaide.
I was meaning unfair, because Christmas Day BBL would be a marquee/major game. As the MCG already has the famous Boxing Day Test (the day after too), I doubt it’d get that as well?
I also agree about crowds, it’d be difficult.
Nope. NZ was playing in Chch on Boxing Day that year.
Christmas Day cricket was first reported on today’s Herald Sun and I was surprised by the proposal. I mean, even if a BBL match gets the green light, how many people want to sacrifice their family time to go to the game? The TV ratings will be low as well.
Turns out it was an ODI against Sri Lanka and it was 2013
http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-sri-lanka-2013-14/engine/match/657643.html
But that’s the thing…will the ratings be low?
Christmas night is filled with reruns or holiday movies, there’s no appointment viewing there.
The article states Christmas night is popular at cinemas, so there is already an audience willing to leave the house for entertainment. Perhaps a lot of people are sick of their family by then and would be keen to go to a game at 7pm. Make it an attractive option and people might attend.
The NBA’s Christmas Day games are huge, both in attendances and TV and while Australia has an outdoor culture around Xmas, it’s worth having a crack I think.