Ticket sales are underwhelming for the upcoming Australia/England one-day international series as England’s T20 World Cup hero Moeen Ali said his teammates would struggle to get up for the games.
Cricket authorities on Monday could not place an estimated crowd figure for the three day/night games, starting in Adelaide on Thursday, but there is an acceptance among industry sources they will struggle to get the punters through the gates in meaningful numbers.
Australia’s one-day international series against England is Pat Cummins’ first as captain.Credit:Getty Images
These games are not part of the World Cup Super League, which also serve as qualification for India next year, making them no more than glorified World Cup warm-ups carrying international status. They come after a month when almost every game had something riding on it.
There is hope England’s status as the best white-ball team in the world can lure undecided fans, but Cricket Australia has traditionally struggled to draw decent crowds for limited-overs matches outside the holiday period, let alone for midweek games in November after a home World Cup.
The flat ticket sales for what is the oldest rivalry in the game reflect the diminished standing of 50-over cricket among cricket fans in this country.
The matches mark the start of the Pat Cummins era as captain of the 50-over side after taking the reins from Aaron Finch, who retired from the format in September.
After a big crowd on opening night, Australia drew disappointing attendances for their World Cup games, in contrast to the massive turnouts for India and Pakistan.
Moeen spoke ruefully that cricket’s crowded schedule means there is no longer time to celebrate major achievements, saying it is “horrible” his team are back on the field in just a matter of days.
“It’s been happening for a while. When we won in 2019, we had the Ashes two weeks later and a Test match against Ireland three days after winning,” Moeen said.
“Those kind of things are a shame. As a group, we want to enjoy and celebrate and have that because you put so much into it as well. It’s not just while the tournament’s going on, it’s pre-tournament, your build-up and all that.
“Having a game in three days’ time is horrible, but it’s better than two days if it got rained off.
“As players we’re kind of used to it now, hopping and hopping but to give 100 per cent all the time is difficult when you’re playing every two or three days.”
Moeen Ali. Credit:AP
Playing the matches now is convenient, given England’s squad is already here from the T20 World Cup.
“We have to do it. While we’re here, we may as well do it,” Moeen said on Sunday night moments after England added the T20 crown to their 2019 World Cup victory. “Better than going back and having to come back out another time.
“We don’t want to think about that at the minute, but we’re up for the challenge when it comes.”
Australia star Glenn Maxwell touched similar notes about the packed schedule after the host nation’s early exit, saying there was no time to dwell on results as there was always another series or tournament on the horizon. Maxwell’s comments were interpreted by some as he did not care, even though he spoke extensively of his disappointment in the same interview.
Cummins last year said cricket was different to other major sports in Australia due to its schedule.
“You see people win premierships in AFL or NRL, and they go on a two-week bender,” Cummins said. “Whereas in cricket you come to the end of a Test series and everyone’s ready to go home and sleep for a few days.”
