MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia (CA) will face a significant financial setback after the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ends within two days, international media reported on Saturday.
According to a report, CA will lose around US$10 million as more than 90,000 sold out on the third day of the Melbourne Test, which saw England end a drought by six wickets in less than two days.
Also, if the two days end, there will be a loss of sales of goods, food and beverages.
Notably, this is the second financial setback for the hosts in the current home Ashes, having suffered a loss of A$10 million on the two-day end of the series opener in Perth.
After 20 wickets fell on the opening day of the recently-concluded tournament, CA chief executive Todd Greenberg said shorter Test matches were bad for business and would be involved in pitch curation.
“One simple phrase I like to use is – short tests are bad for business. I can’t be more blunt than that,” Greenberg told SEN radio ahead of the second day’s play.
“Historically we’ve taken a hands-on approach with all our wicket products…but when you see the impact on the game, especially commercially, it’s hard not to be more involved,” he added.
Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith, who was the opener of the two-day series in Perth, echoed Greenberg’s comments and said the two-day result was not ideal after ending in a losing streak in Melbourne.
“Funds are not great and I think it will sell tomorrow,” he said.
“We’ve seen 36 wickets in two days and that means it’s a pretty tricky wicket. It’s probably given a bit too much. A lot of Tests have been played in fast forward and it’s over in two days, not ideal. A little more time would be nice and it would be nice to be able to entertain the fans, but it shouldn’t be.”