By Robert Craddock Source: The Daily Telegraph
THE fading popularity of 50-over cricket will come into sharp focus tomorrow when Australia play before at least 10,000 empty seats in a fixture once routinely sold out.
Australia's one-day series against Pakistan will be launched at the Gabba with officials expecting a crowd in the mid-20,000s for a stadium that holds almost 40,000.
For decades one-day games featuring Australia in Brisbane were routinely sold out before Christmas and were among the hottest sporting tickets in town.
Interstate Twenty20 games featuring the Queensland Bulls have attracted around 17,000 in recent weeks - even with limited publicity and clashing with Test matches - showcasing the blossoming drawing power of the game's shiny new toy and that the 50-over game is losing its lustre.
Shane Warne has called for Australia to dump the 50-over game just as England has already done with its county system.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori believes the 50- over game can survive but perhaps in a reduced format.
"It can survive but it may be limited to world events and the Champions Trophy," Vettori said. "We may not see the seven-match series that we have in the past but I still believe it is a really good game which produces some unique cricketers
THE fading popularity of 50-over cricket will come into sharp focus tomorrow when Australia play before at least 10,000 empty seats in a fixture once routinely sold out.
Australia's one-day series against Pakistan will be launched at the Gabba with officials expecting a crowd in the mid-20,000s for a stadium that holds almost 40,000.
For decades one-day games featuring Australia in Brisbane were routinely sold out before Christmas and were among the hottest sporting tickets in town.
Interstate Twenty20 games featuring the Queensland Bulls have attracted around 17,000 in recent weeks - even with limited publicity and clashing with Test matches - showcasing the blossoming drawing power of the game's shiny new toy and that the 50-over game is losing its lustre.
Shane Warne has called for Australia to dump the 50-over game just as England has already done with its county system.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori believes the 50- over game can survive but perhaps in a reduced format.
"It can survive but it may be limited to world events and the Champions Trophy," Vettori said. "We may not see the seven-match series that we have in the past but I still believe it is a really good game which produces some unique cricketers
