Future Of Test Cricket At Hobart 'On The Line' With Less Than 10,000 Expected

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," according to Chris Barrett of THE AGE. 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." Internal projections are 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." 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 (THE AGE, 12/3).