Cricket Australia set for another massive financial hit after two-day Melbourne Test

MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia (CA) is set to incur a substantial financial setback after the fourth Ashes Test here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) concluded inside two days, international media reported on Saturday.

According to a report, the CA is likely suffer a loss of around $10 million as a sell-out crowd of more than 90,000 was due for the third day of the Melbourne Test, which saw England romp to a drought-ending six-wicket victory inside two days. Furthermore, the two-day finish will result in lost sales in merchandise, food and drinks.

Notably, it was a second financial setback for the hosts in the ongoing home Ashes as the two-day finish of the series opener in Perth cost around $3 million in losses. After 20 wickets fell on the opening day of the recently concluded fixture, CA’s chief executive, Todd Greenberg, bluntly termed the short Tests bad for business and hinted at involvement in pitch curation.

“A simple phrase I’d use is – short Tests are bad for business. I can’t be much more blunt than that,” Greenberg told SEN Radio ahead of the second day’s play. “Historically we have taken a hands-off approach in all of our wicket preparation… but it’s hard not to get more involved when you see the impact on the sport, particularly commercially,” he added.

Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith, who was unfazed by the two-day series opener in Perth, echoed Greenberg’s remarks and called the two-day finish not ideal after ending up on the losing side in Melbourne. “The finances aren’t great and I think it was a sell-out tomorrow,” he said. “We saw 36 wickets in two days and that indicates it was a pretty tricky wicket. It probably offered a little bit too much. A lot of the Tests have been played in fast forward and this one was over in two day, not ideal. It would be good if it was a little bit longer and we were able to entertain the fans some more but it wasn’t to be.”