Australia’s third and final match against England has taken place in front lowest crowd for an ODI involving Australia at the MCG.
Key points:
- There was a very low turnout at the MCG for Australia’s dead rubber third ODI against England
- An online survey found more than 30 per cent of respondents believed ODI cricket would die out in 10-15 years
- The average attendance for ODIs at the MCG in November is 17,993
With Australia taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead into Tuesday’s match, spectators stayed away from the largest stadium in the country for the midweek dead rubber match, which was interrupted at times by rain.
Openers David Warner and Travis Head put on a 269-run opening stand as Australia made 5-355.
The crowd increased during the course of Australia’s innings, but the top level of the MCG was closed in a sign of the predicted low crowd.
The final crowd number of 10,406 is the lowest Australia have played in front of in an ODI at the MCG.
The previous lowest attendance for an ODI at the MCG involving Australia was in 1979 when 12,077 turned up to watch the hosts against England.
Only three ODIs have previously been held at the MCG in November, with an average attendance for those matches just 17,993.
The crowds at these three ODIs against England have again raised debate about the future of the 50-over game.
A recent survey conducted by fan site CricBlog found of the more than 1,000 participants, 33.6 per cent believed ODIs would cease to exist within 10 to 15 years.
More than 50 per cent of respondents said ODIs were the one format they would be prepared to sacrifice, ahead of 41 per cent who nominated T20Is and 6.7 per cent who chose Tests.
When ODIs at the MCG are played in December, January and February, the average crowd number rises above 40,000.
It is a dramatic drop-off from the recent Twenty20 World Cup, with 80,462 people turning out to watch England win the final against Pakistan at the MCG just nine days ago.
India and Pakistan took centre stage at the MCG in the group stage of the T20 World Cup with a bumper crowd of 90,293 in attendance.
ABC/AAP
