The Cricket Thread (part 9) - from Dec 2024

Just for context, Melbournes population in 1936 is estimated at 920,000 :crazy_face:

6 Likes

Going to be interesting to see what happens with crowds for next year’s Ashes series.

The Ashes are always huge.

The Konstas and Brook shows are a tantalising drawcard.

And Melbourne’s Indian population adds a large cricket loving group.

3 Likes

That was key to this.

And if Sri Lanka can get their Test side act together, a similar phenomenon may emerge.

2 Likes

“The match will not come near the record for the largest Test cricket attendance – over 465,000 watched the 1999 match between India and Pakistan at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.”

Bigger than Bradman: bumper Boxing Day Test breaks record for cricket crowd in Australia | Cricket | The Guardian.

1 Like

The thing about cricket games in India or Pakistan that they do not often know how many are there. It may be different now with newer stadiums but I went to a Test match in Karachi in 1992 at the National Stadium.

I was in the Chairman’s Box which was about the size of a 20 seater box at the G and there were about 50 people in it.

The crowd was huge and when I asked how many, I was told about 120,000. It felt like 200000. It has now been rebuilt as an all seated 35000 capacity.


IMG_0485

Great test match, Australia lost by a wicket on the final day.

3 Likes

22 Likes

I call shenanigans on that number

reckon the crowd would have looked the same

1 Like

The was for a 5 day total

yes but thats 93 X 5, thats a long way past capacity

Before Eden Gardens was rebuilt it was a very open place. I didn’t attend a cricket match there but saw the place in the 1990s and could imagine 200000 Indian cricket lovers swarming around.

In 1996 World Cup semi final, India vs Sri Lanka, they had an official attendance of 110000 for a one day game.

Day 5 lasted 6 overs

2 Likes

Doesn’t surprise me. Indian supporters are amongst the most emotionally unstable, unfunny, salty and churlish people you’ll come across. Happy to hand out the insults, but the minute you go back at them they’ll play the race card. They’ll happily play the victim now with the Jaiswal and Deep 2nd innings dismissals being overturned by DRS.

4 Likes

Nicely summed up by Daniel.

Plenty of Australian fans aren’t exactly saints either, though.

1 Like

As an Indian supporter, I would say I’m anything but the characteristics you’ve listed. Funny though, I would say that most Australian fans I know, love dishing out abuse and aren’t quite able to take it coming back their way.

Anyhow, that’s besides the point. India only have themselves to blame for this loss, it wasn’t down to any amazing bowling from Australia. Pant, Kohli and Jaiswal all threw away their wickets and should be plastered by the media for their choices.

Rohit Sharma would’ve been best to stay in India and just allow Bumrah to captain the side. He was more tactically adept and aggressive as a captain in Perth.

7 Likes

In case anyone is wondering


4 Likes

Almost like having Steve Buckner reincarnated. I’ll never forgive him for that non call in the Sydney 2008 test.

3 Likes

Simon Taufel summed up the decision on Jaiswal. If there is video evidence it hit the bat or gloves - which there clearly was- then there is no need to go to Snicko. It’s not needed. So the snicko thing is just an excuse by India and Indian fans to vent - even Sharma said he hit it!

6 Likes

Yeah the Sharma comments when you read them, come off as some serious cognitive dissonance.