Former Australia cricketer David Warner was left fuming over empty stands in South Africa during the ongoing Test series. The former opener didn’t mince his words and launched a scathing attack on the poor attendance records in the Tests currently undergoing in South Africa. Warner called the crowd ‘pathetic’ and questioned whether the format is actually being enjoyed.
“We keep hearing how important Test cricket is, but where are the fans in South Africa?” Warner tweeted. “Empty stands, no atmosphere, and we’re supposed to believe the format is thriving? You can’t keep calling Test cricket the pinnacle of the game if no one turns up to watch it. Harsh reality, but someone has to say it. Pathetic,” he added.
Notably, Proteas lost the first Test in Durban by 214 runs, and during the game, large sections of Kingsmead were left empty. Not only this, but the crowds have not picked up through the first two rain-affected days of the second Test in Gqeberha. As per reports, only 20,000 fans attended the Durban Test across five days.
Michael Artherton and Nasser Hussain criticise low audience turnout in South Africa vs Australia Tests
Notably, Warner isn’t the only former cricketer who pointed out the low audience turnout. Apart from him, former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain were also critical of the same.
“It started on a Friday, was played over the weekend. It’s the number one and number two ranked teams in the world, the first Test match at home for South Africa since becoming world champions,” Aetherton was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“Plus there was all the context of it being the first Test between these two in South Africa since the infamous 2018 series. If you can’t drag a crowd in given that context, it’s a worrying sign,” he added.
Hussain, on the other hand, asserted, “The lights issue, and going off for bad light at half past three on day one, I think that’s more the discussion,” Hussain said to Sky Sports. “What can we do to make sure that sitting in a stand on a hot day is very much a good experience for the people that have paid their money? That they’re sitting there at 5.30 pm and not been sent home at 3.30 pm due to bad light?”
