Just weeks after forecasting a record year ahead, Cricket Australia is facing a multimillion dollar drain from the rapid-fire two-day Ashes opener.
A combination of Travis Head’s stunning Ashes century and England’s aggressive Bazball approach to batting led to the first game of the blockbuster series in Perth ending late on day two.
Cricket Australia are headed for an estimated loss of more than $3m from ticket revenue for days three and four.
A record 101,514 attended the Test – 51,531 on Friday, then 49,983 – to surpass the record set of 96,463 in Perth last year when India won in four days.
Day three was also almost sold out.
Head said the Perth Test was an “amazing two days” but he felt for the fans who had tickets for day three.
“Feel sorry for the people who can’t come tomorrow. I think it was a full house again,” he told the Seven Network after the match.
People with single day Test tickets for days that will not go ahead are entitled to full refunds, according to Cricket Australia’s refund policy.
Speaking before play on Saturday, when Australia’s first innings hadn’t even finished, Cricket Australia’s chief executive Todd Greenberg half-joked that he was worried about the Test not making it to day three.
