By Chris Barrett
Hobart's future as a venue for Test cricket is on the line amid worrying official projections of an attendance of less than 10,000 for the first four days against the West Indies, a turnout that would further tempt Cricket Australia to instead hand a maiden Test to Canberra next summer.
CA is still enjoying the afterglow of the historic pink-ball spectacle in Adelaide but the reality of Test cricket's struggles to draw a crowd in many markets may well hit home again when the first Test takes place from next Thursday.
While the anticipation of a lop-sided contest against the lowly West Indians is not doing the event any favours CA officials have also not forgotten the last time a Test match was held at Blundstone Arena, against Sri Lanka in 2012, when one of the state's favourite sons, Ricky Ponting, had his farewell celebration before a crowd of only 6221.
Internal projections for next week's Test are even more dire, suggesting the match is tracking for an overall attendance of less than 10,000 over the first four days. Little wonder that ticket prices have been cut by a third.
Possible Test venue: Canberra's Manuka Oval.Credit: Rohan Thomson
If such a poor showing transpires a first-ever Test in Canberra next season is likely to be considered - at the expense of Hobart - with six Tests again on the summer calendar, three against South Africa and three against Pakistan.
According to the original Future Tours Programme there was to have been seven Tests in Australia next summer - including a four-match series against South Africa - so the 14,500-capacity Manuka Oval had seemed well-placed to be awarded one in any case. With that schedule amended they must now wait again for an opportunity but with the ACT Government also pushing hard they believe they deserve one.
"Whilst the fixture is in the control of Cricket Australia they need to consider whether the Canberra community would support a Test match and the answer is a resounding yes," Cricket ACT chief executive Cameron French said.
"Over the past two years Manuka has been sold out for two one-day internationals, a World Cup game and the Big Bash League final. The community have voted with their feet."
In a visit to Tasmania in October CA chief James Sutherland left little doubt that Hobart needed to demonstrate why the city should be awarded more international matches in the future. There was less than 20,000 in total through the gates for that Test against Sri Lanka three summers ago.
"Down the track who knows what possibilities there are but to create a compelling case for more International cricket down here, the only real way is for Tasmanians to show up in force and send a message to us," Sutherland said then.
"Being honest we have been disappointed in recent times with the trend line with attendances at international cricket matches. That said at the same time, the BBL has been a big success in Tasmania and we have some seen some big crowds here so we know Tasmanians love their cricket."
Brisbane, which had disappointing crowds for the first Test against New Zealand last month, are likely to stage another day-night Test in the future in a bid to intensify interest there.
Cricket Tasmania chief David Johnston told local media in Hobart he expects they will need a total crowd in the "mid-20,000s" to impress CA.
"Cricket Australia is committed to staging matches in Hobart, but it's a competitive market so we have to show that there is demand for it," Johnston said.
There are no Tasmanians in the Australian squad.