If the T20 World Cup told us anything, it was that too much cricket is being played to expect people to be flocking to games in the numbers they once did.
The two-Test series between Australia and the West Indies stands to be a key fortnight for Cricket Australia and its coffers, with grave fears existing that the opening Test in Perth could be one of the most poorly attended matches on Australian soil in recent memory.
The match will begin on a Wednesday, be played outside the local school holiday period and feature a touring team likely to find things very challenging against a group of well-rested Australians.
After the nation’s disappointment of the failed T20 World Cup tilt on home soil, the Australian Test cricket team will be frothing at the mouth to dominate yet another down under summer, with another flat-track bully performance likely against the improving West Indies.
At the time of writing, the tourists were battling away courageously against the Prime Minister’s IX at Manuka Oval in Canberra, 87 behind on the first innings, as the locals stretched the advantage further on the third afternoon. The visitors will hopefully be dangled a carrot in terms of a fourth innings chase.
It has been an interesting game of cricket thus far, with the second-string Aussie line-up exerting a superiority with the bat on the opening day and performing well with the ball to clean up the visitors for just 235 early on Friday morning.
Most concerning for West Indies is the fact that just two of their top order batsmen managed to reach double figures, with Kraigg Brathwaite (47) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (119) doing the bulk of the scoring and exciting wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva rustling up 25 runs as the third-highest scorer of the innings.
(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Whilst the successful Test series at home against Bangladesh back in June was promising, with Kyle Mayers, John Campbell, Jermaine Blackwood and Brathwaite all averaging over 50 across the two matches, the opposition performed poorly in 10 and seven-wicket wins for the home side.
Earlier in March, the Windies stunned England in the Caribbean with a 1-0 series win that bled into the confidence shown against Bangladesh.
It also provided some hope that the touring party destined to arrive in Australia for a brisk pre-Christmas Test series would be well up for the challenge and capable of taking the Aussies into fourth and fifth days.
Sadly, from what we have seen thus far from the West Indians, there is all likelihood that the Aussies could be up for yet another rout on home turf and the repercussions in terms of fans being keen to attend the Tests rather serious for Cricket Australia.
Big Bash seasons that extend far longer than they should, Test series not involving England or India proving tough to sell tickets to and a chasm deepening between the general public and the men who represent Australia on the field, have all conspired to make the upcoming series with West Indies a potential dud, should the visitors struggle from day 1.
Brathwaite has some quality about him, yet averages just 34.45 in Test cricket, Chanderpaul is likely to debut in Perth, whilst Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks and Mayers average under 40 at Test level and could well be cannon fodder for the Australian quicks.
There were promising signs from spinner Roston Chase and paceman Alzarri Joseph in the nation’s capital, yet spearhead Kemar Roach looks no more dangerous at his now 34 years of age than on previous tours and the Windies may be hoping for a significant contribution from the young, raw, but impressive Jayden Seales.
Fingers crossed, the West Indies put up a good fight and Western Australian fans are keen to head down to Optus Stadium to soak up the subsequent contest. Cricket Australia will have absolutely everything crossed in the same hope.
Sadly, a thumping 2-0 win to the Australians seems far more likely, along with a mostly vacant stadium.
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