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Brisbane: The Brisbane ODI between India and Australia on Friday could be a kind of dress rehearsal for the Queensland Cricket Association in order to earn a ‘Pink Ball Test’ during next Australian summer as the crowd turnout at the stadium has been poor. (India vs Australia 1st ODI: Rohit Sharma’s Ton in Vain as Steven Smith, George Bailey Star in Hosts’ Win)
According to a report in the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’: “The Gabba looks set to sign off its up-and-down summer with a strong one-day international crowd that could be pivotal to its chances of earning a prized pink-ball Test. Brisbane was pilloried for poor crowds to start the 2015-16 Test summer against New Zealand, even if the eventual total of 53,572 represented an attendance record for Trans-Tasman red-ball cricket at the venue.” (India Will Have to Find Way to Get Rid of Steven Smith, Says Sunil Gavaskar)
“An unusually early start and the lack of drawing power of the tourists were given as reasons but rivals circling for Brisbane’s Test, or spot in the schedule, were quick to suggest the fixture might be on the ropes and cricket on the nose with locals,” the report stated.
According to the report, the crowd attracted during local team Brisbane Heats’ Big Bash League games have been an indicator that spectators love entertainment.
“… consistently strong crowds for the Big Bash League’s Brisbane Heat, despite a tough campaign, showed there was an appetite for entertaining cricket, which should be affirmed with a predicted 30,000-plus crowd for Friday’s ODI against India. That sort of number would be a major boost for the Gabba’s chances of earning hosting rights for a day-night Test against the South Africans in November or early December,” it further stated.
Source: NDTV