Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: Concerns grow over T20s in Australia after another low SCG crowd | Low crowd for Sri Lanka T20Is at SCG after long BBL season

Concerns are growing over the state of the cricketing calendar in Australia after another low crowd at the SCG. Just 6,305 fans turned out for the second T20I between Australia and Sri Lanka, prompting further discussions over just how much T20 is too much in the country.

The five-match T20I series, which will move to Canberra (third T20I) and Melbourne (fourth and fifth T20I) comes after a long Big Bash League (BBL) season which comprised of 61 matches across 54 days. While COVID-19 certainly plays a factor in lower crowds, the steady decline in BBL crowd numbers over the past five years is clear, with those in suits currently discussing the BBL’s future according to cricket.com.au.

AUS vs SL T20I series also behind a paywall

The series, which began with a crowd of just 12,908 for the first T20I, is also only behind a paywall. Viewership peaked at around the 201,000 mark for the second T20I, which is a fraction of what the viewership would have been had the match been available on Free-to-Air television.

This, in combination with Justin Langer’s resignation dominating the headlines ahead of the series, resulted in a lack of awareness among some fans. Worryingly, some took to social media to state that they didn’t even know the series was on.

With the second T20I on at the same time as the IPL Mega Auction, more attention turned to the match only as things got tight late on. Sri Lanka struck 45 off the last three overs to force a Super Over, with Josh Hazlewood, the million dollar IPL man, continuing his remarkable rise in T20 cricket.

Low crowds, low engagement: Cricket Australia must act

Fans turned out to the Test matches this summer even with COVID-19 at its peak particularly in Sydney and Melbourne. It has not been the case with the T20 format, with the level of engagement seen 5-10 years ago nowhere to be seen at the moment.

In fact, the BBL has the most games and spans the highest number of days compared to some of the other major white-ball leagues around the world, including the IPL.

• 2021 IPL: 60 games in 51 days
• 2021-22 BBL: 61 games in 54 days
• 2022 PSL: 34 games in 32 days
• 2021 Hundred: 34 games in 31 days
• 2021 CPL: 33 games in 21 days

Less T20 is more in Australia. The original success of the BBL came about as an entertainment product, where families could go enjoy a night out at the cricket. Now, with reduced quality and more matches, Australian cricket fans have made the message loud and clear.

As mentioned, COVID-19 has a role to play, but average crowd numbers have been declining since BBL 06.

• BBL 05: 1,029,285 | Avg per game: 29,408 (35 games)
• BBL 06: 1,053,997 | Avg: 30,114 (35)
• BBL 07: 1,143,763 | Avg: 26,599 (43)
• BBL 08: 1,214,965 | Avg: 20,592 (59)
• BBL 09: 1,133,114 | Avg: 18,575 (61)
• *BBL 10: 473,770 | Avg: 7,766 (61)
• *BBL 11: 412,547 | Avg: 6,763 (61)

*COVID-19 affected seasons with neutral venues and crowd restrictions in some parts.

Move more T20 Internationals to lesser-known grounds

One possible option for Cricket Australia is to move more T20 Internationals to grounds such as Coffs Harbour, Geelong and Northern Australia. Fans in those regions rarely see any international cricket if at all, so the locals will pack the grounds out and it will be a better look for the game.

Importantly, it will help drive engagement across the country.

The remaining T20Is against Sri Lanka will be played on February 15 in Canberra and February 18 and 20 in Melbourne.