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Travis Head and David Warner make hundreds in front of record-low MCG crowd

A dull Tuesday and packed cricket calendar conspired for a record low MCG crowd on Tuesday as two Aussie batters went berserk.

Russell GouldRussell Gould
@gouldynews
3 min read
November 22, 2022 - 9:58PM
NCA NewsWire
Head HAMMERS classy century!

An imperious 152 from World Cup lock Travis Head in a record setting partnership with drought-breaker David Warner was a good deflection from the sad sight of empty MCG stands and the record-low crowd which watched Australia take England apart on Tuesday.

The paltry turnout of just 10,406, for the 150th ODI at the MCG no less, was the lowest ever attendance for an ODI at the MCG, less than 12,077 from a match in 1979, also against England.

Scattered indiscriminately around the vast colosseum the hardy fans did produce enthusiastic applause whens Head rocked his arms in tribute to his new baby daughter after reaching triple figures as part of a stunning batting effort as he and Warner set all manner of records in their 269 run-stand which came in Australia‘s 221-run romp.

Warner ended his own 1043-day drought of international hundreds and with his helmet-off, his traditional leap done and arms raised in triumph looked a man who thought “finally” despite already having 43 international hundreds on his brilliant career CV.

But the sound of the ball rocketing off their bats to the boundary 30 times from Head, who didn’t field after becoming ill following his highest ODI score, and Warner who made 106 was as brilliant as the echo around the near-empty MCG which followed every shot was deflating.

The home side finished on a record 5-355, the highest score ever in an ODI at the MCG and England was all out for 142 in a painfully disinterested run-chase, which nearly included a hat-trick from Adam Zampa, as they eyed off their imminent return home.

It was an ugly end to a series which drew just over 46,000 people to three games and one played without context for anyone other than the players and one which, when combined with the mid-week scheduling in November, made the poor turnout expected.

But not to the degree it was, with no more than 1000 in their seats for the 2:20pm start time, no matter what any “official” figures floating around may have suggested.

Those who got in early witnessed a blossoming opening relationship created by the retirement of former captain Aaron Finch which looks to be Australia’s best choice for next year’s World Cup in India.

Head and Warner already boast the highest partnership in Australian ODI history – 284 scored against Pakistan in 2017 – made 147 in the opening game of this series and now they have the greatest ever Australian opening partnership against England.

They also combined for the highest ever partnership in an ODI at the MCG, for any team, beating a 20-year-old record when Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting put on 225 runs, in front of 34,887 people in 2002

Crowds of more than 80,000 filled the MCG three times during the recent T20 World Cup, but not when Australia was playing which drew questions about the locals being “on the nose” with fans.

That was denied on the eve of the match by Australian batting dynamo Marnus Labuschagne who pointed to the glut of cricket as a potential cause.

“I certainly don’t feel like there is a lack of interest in the Australian team,” he said.

“With that much cricket around, it’s a big cost for families to keep turning up.

“You’ve got the World Cup, Big Bash coming up, a five-Test series. Come Boxing Day it’s going to be a packed stadium with South Africa rolling in.”

Travis Head hits a six . (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Travis Head hits a six . (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The average attendance for the only three other ODIs ever played at the MCG in November was just over 17,000 but for Cricket Australia the lack of a turnout required every bit of context available.

The series was already won, it was a Tuesday, it’s not school holidays yet and it was a bit cold.

The small turnout, however, meant less to the Australian players who have declared every match an important one 12 months out for a one-day World Cup.

For Head particularly every minute in the middle is of significance and the only spectators that mattered were the national selectors.

THE DROUGHT IS OVER

Warner has not been short of runs in the nearly three years since his last international hundred but there was little doubt reaching triple figures was a monkey off his back.

It was his first hundred for Australia since January 2020, a month in which he scored both Test and ODI centuries.

Since then he’s been in the 90s twice in ODIs, even making 99 in Sri Lanka this year, and twice in Tests.

It was Warner’s 19th ODI ton, putting him in outright second on the all-time list for Australia, behind only Ricky Ponting’s 29.

David Warner celebrates reaching his century . ( (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
David Warner celebrates reaching his century . ( (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

BACK IN CHARGE

Australia resisted the urge to unleash wild thing Riley Meredith for the third and final clash, instead including Sean Abbott for spinner Ashton Agar, with captain Pat Cummins back in charge, taking the reins from Josh Hazlewood.

Eyebrows were raised when both Cummins opted to miss what would have bene just his second game in charge in Sydney last Saturday, but also with Hazlewood big preferred to Steve Smith as stand-in skipper.

ODIS AT MCG IN NOVEMBER:

….. Australia v England, 2022

14,177 Australia v South Africa, 2014

19,309 Australia v Sri Lanka, 2010

20,671 Australia v Pakistan, 1981.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-and-england-greeted-by-empty-mcg-stands-for-odi/news-story/f8840620e784e91defdae8faf26b29e4