India-Pakistan

[SSA.]

How can something like the 2001 Calcutta (VVS Laxman) test be any less exciting than the numerous meaningless ODIS? But sadly it appears to be in the sub continent. I think we will see good numbers when Australia tour later this year, and hopefully the better performances of Indian team recently will revive the interest in Test Match cricket again.

I know Kumble is very popular in Bangalore, he is the local hero. What I meant was that someone like Yuvraj Singh is a household name as compared to a seasoned campaigner like Kumble who has played a part in many home wins for India and did well in Aus this time as well. I think Yuvraj is just a usual ODI player - they have them in every team. Nothing personal against Yuvraj, he is just an example.

[honestbharani]

I don't think the attendance for quality test cricket is dwindling in India, I mean that 2001 series against Australia was played in packed stadiums, even the Windies got a good deal of spectators turning up to watch the matches, although I think the absence of Lara from their line up played a part........The kiwis don't attract audiences because they play that way........I won't pay to watch them play, either......They don't win and they don't lose.....They are becoming like the Sri Lanka of 2 or 3 years ago, who always drew matches in the subcontinent

[Nikhil]

I think the Oz series will draw some record crowds. Where are the matches? I think the venues haven't been decided yet. But if the matches are in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai or B'lore, all the days will be almost sold out. No doubt about that.

In India, test matches haven't been a problem as in Pakistan. Also the Oz draw a lot of spectators.

[SSA.]

Nikihil and honestbharani I guess I was talking about less crowd as compared to Australia, and also based on the NZ series last october. I have not actually "watched" any India home series previous to that for the last three years since I no longer live in India. Lack of crowd support in Pakistan was also influencing me I suppose.

With India putting in better performances in tests recently I hope there will be more people coming to see the matches live. And India-Australia has become almost as important as India-Pakistan now so hopefully more knowledgeable followers will be at the grounds to support the team during tests.

[Nikhil]

Originally Posted by SSA.

Nikihil and honestbharani I guess I was talking about less crowd as compared to Australia, and also based on the NZ series last october. I have not actually "watched" any India home series previous to that for the last three years since I no longer live in India. Lack of crowd support in Pakistan was also influencing me I suppose.

With India putting in better performances in tests recently I hope there will be more people coming to see the matches live. And India-Australia has become almost as important as India-Pakistan now so hopefully more knowledgeable followers will be at the grounds to support the team during tests.

Hi SSA,

Last year the crowds for the NZ series were bad, because of the way NZ plays cricket. They just play for a draw and that's sick. Btw, I was surprised by the thin crowds in Pakistan. May be Pakistanis have lost interest in tests.

But I can bet you will get humungus crowds for the Oz series. My bet is it will be a sold out series from the very beginning.

[Miles Cooper]

Originally Posted by Nikhil

May be Pakistanis have lost interest in tests.

I don't think it's just Pakistan. It's a an Asian thing. I'm a huge Sri Lanka fan but in the recent series with Australia the rowds were great for the ODIs but crap for the Tests. And so it was in Pak when India came a calling. Here you have Sri Lanka hostibg the world's number 1 cricket team and they get crap Test crowds, and Pak hosting India in the bitterest rivalry in world cricket and they still get crap crowds at the Tests. So is this a subcontinent economic issue or is it a reflection on how fanatical Asian crowds are about dynamic ODIs rather then Tests?

[honestbharani]

I think it may be a issue with Sri Lanka and Pakistan but I can assure you that Test cricket in India is well and truly alive. Even an Irani Trophy game (granted, it had all the stars) drew in packed crowds in the stands that were left open for the public. New Zealand, Sri Lanka and probably England (when they were here last time) play for draws and that is why they never drew the crowds. Even the windies drew bigger crowds than these teams, even without the Prince...... So I think with the right teams and with them playing the right way, test cricket will still draw huge crowds in India.....

[Miles Cooper]

That's interesting and heartening to hear. Wonder what it is with Pak and SL then?

[Nikhil]

As a matter of fact, there was an game, WI Vs. India-A when WI last toured India. The game was in Pune. I went there on the last day. It was a Sunday admittedly, but there were about 5000 people in the stands. The game wasn't free. All of us had to buy tickets.

After the match, the streets were jammed because all the people were waiting for the WI team bus to come, so that they could just get a glimpse of the players.

[honestbharani]

Miles,


I think it is probably the money issue. Perhaps, the people don't wanna pay a lot of money to go and watch a day of Test cricket when they won't even be sure if they will get to see their favourite batter bat or their favourite bowler bowl.....It was like that in India quite sometime back but with our economy improving and our team starting to play better, the crowds have started to come in...Maybe the same will happen in SL and Pak too...