I’ve been attending Test Matches since the 1960s first with my late father and in more recent times with my partner (who I suspect is a bigger cricket fan than myself).
The question of whether five day Tests can continue has been under discussion for a good while. Attendance may be good in England & Wales, Australia and the Sub Continent but not so much elsewhere. The nature of life and work in 2024 militates against such lengthy contests. When I discuss a Test with my niece who is in her thirties the idea of a 5 day game does not compute.
That doesnt mean Tests cant continue but it requires thought about the model and thought beyond the market capital outlook that currently dominates.
I was at the West Indies Lords Test in July, Jimmy Anderson’s last, with Megan and had a good day. Tickets for Lords are expensive although I had actually restricted view seats (hardly restricted) which were reasonably priced.
The Lords ticket ballot for 2025 has yet to open but I already have seats for an England v West Indies ODI in Cardiff in June 2025. This is mainly a world where thinking and booking far in advance is the only guaranteed way to get tickets. That is not how everyone operates, particularly the less well off.
Of course the idea is to fill the ground but keeping some tickets for sale nearer the time or on the day surely can be made to work economically.
In 2025 India visit and grounds will be full but empty seats this year reflect ticket prices well over £100. For a family with travel etc that is a lot of money. A short holiday might be cheaper.
Then there is the weather. When I was much younger getting in to watch a Test didnt cost that much and if there was bad light or rain it was just too bad. You did not get your money back. Of course now you do get it back but not all the other costs- travel, food etc. The expectation should be that cricket is played unless it is really impossible due to conditions. At the moment the presumption seems to be that it might be played or then again it might not. Explanations will be few.
I’m not sure those running the big grounds at the moment are up to grappling with such pragmatic matters focused as they are on the Hundred franchise. Perhaps the Minister for Culture, Media and Sport needs to find a way of looking at the issue without appointing an inquiry to report in 2030. By then it could be too late.
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