Cricket Australia trying to draw T20 fans to Tests

A growing number of people who have nursed by the Twenty20 Cricket Australia Entree forced to go back to work on the main course. Disappointing levels of audience "division" of T20 international cricket were a major reason for the CA decision significantly cut prices for Test and limited-overs games before next summer.

A review of ticket prices and availability was undertaken by CA commercial department after a series of disappointing international crowds at various points over the past two summers, a trend in direct contrast to the burgeoning attendances for the Big Bash League.
ushered have since the BBL in existence at the Australian Cricket Conference in 2010, CA and Chief Executive James Sutherland has been claimed that the tournament in order to get the game new fans, was developed that ultimately a love for Tests and ODIs would take.

However, a call rates reduced significantly - to offer every state general admission tickets at only $ 30 for adults, while the cost of higher grade reserve seats scaling back - made out of concern that the growth of the BBL has not the kind caused by "trickle up effect "CA had hoped.

This is mainly because while BBL tickets have been kept affordable - general adult tickets around $ 20 - Despite their popularity, international prices has reflected an era before the emergence of T20 competition. This has to do large sections of empty seats at the games in a row, where spectators could hard to find something for under $ 50. Sutherland said the success of the BBL had helped to promote a rethink.

"It is clear why we records in terms of overall participation are to break the back of the BBL growth is present," said Sutherland, when the price changes to announce. "More and more people the BBL last year visited part than the World Cup. More than one million people came through the gates BBL Cricket to visit.

"International cricket is still very strong support. And a part of our strategy has for us new people to bring the game by BBL Cricket and also graduate their interest in international cricket. And part of our price review and our research that to complete the interest ... in the form of premium has in mind in order to continue was to be international cricket.

"I think we learned a lot from the BBL and I think we've taken some of the best parts of it and included in the review. But it is also a lot about the positioning and ensure that international cricket is the premium format and we continue to bring the best teams in the country to play the game, international cricket on these three formats to play. "

Since the sale of the BBL to free-to-air television, where it has been a great success for Network Ten, CA has a balancing act between the two transmitters opposite. Nine has for almost 40 years with the game in Australia already, and the need to build a more attractive international television spectacle has also played a role - it felt that empty terrain discourage viewers from tuning in.

"Of course, our focus is to get as many people as possible in our premises - we no secret of the fact that our desired state full of terrain," Sutherland said. "We are facing challenges from time to time, certainly to come up with Test cricket people in conditioning, if people have work commitments and children are in school still, but there are many different ways in which we want to change that.

"Obviously, day-night Test cricket is one of the things, but this pricing strategy is to consider a lot of things. The setting for the TV is always something that looks better. In our view, the whole is greater fan involvement."

Another factor in price changes is the unknown, how much more the BBL can continue to grow. Recent declines in T20 competitions in England and India IPL have suggested that the more youthful Australian tournament not to keep building on the current rate to be expected.

"We do not see ourselves as competing with IPL. We were very, with BBL as something very focused, which is tailored to the Australian market," Sutherland said. "Come out of the path we have ever had, there will always be a challenge that growth to maintain. To a certain degree it is cyclic.

"But at the same time we are raising our sights high in terms of our efforts with BBL and see no reason why we can not go on. We will continue to develop our event presentation those who pay good money to come and watch the, to ensure Cricket are maintained, not only when the cricket is played, but also in other aspects of what is offered in places. "