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How often do you hear on the radio or tv a call from the commentators to "Come down to the ground after work..."?

They'll say it because the cricket is interesting or it is a beautiful day. Yesterday it was both so i thought i'd do just that. Now living 19 stops away it is a fair commitment of time and travel to get to the G for just one session but i was captivated listening to the days play and was also under directions to get the youngest out of the house as the boss had an assignment.

Due to the travel time in and out and the game time remaining i needed an 'all day' train ticket for both of us, no biggie, i'll do the right thing. So we got to the ground just after 4pm hoping, but not expecting, the gates to be open- they weren't.
I went to the ticket booth and was told that because it was family day the grommet would get in for free- great! Still with less than a session to play i was expected to cough up for a full days ticket. Realistically, with the gates opening in less than an hour i was being asked to pay $31 for less than an hour!

Now i know the Boxing day Test is CA's and the MCC's big cash cow, 40k yesterday, 50k the day before and 70k on Boxing day, but full price for less than a session is just greedy...and stupid on their behalf! If they want people to "come in after work" how hard would it be to structure the ticketing to allow for a last session reduced cost ticket?

I wouldn't have baulked if it was even half price for 1/3 of the day, but on principle i couldn't wear full price. So i politely told the ticket seller something to that effect and went for a walk around the ground to find a gate away from the direct bee-line to Richmond station open. Does any one else find that practice peculiar?

So, CA, MCC, whoever is in charge of pricing, if you want to maximise potential crowd numbers right through the day, make it reasonable and set a ticket price for the last session, I'd go every day if that was the case!

stoph verismo
down the wicket

Test, Death, Fred, Rain

Welcome to round 2.

as the last comments in the previous post stated (correctly) the weather had not been included in many post mortems of the first test; an injustice given that when it is taken into account, Australia would have definitely won the match. It really is an issue for test cricket that such a large percentage of a competition can be just written off without being made up for. Image going to see Hamlet and the actors/theater company decided to just not do the famous soliloquy!
you would feel justifiably ripped off!

If the MCC are so concerned about the "death of Test cricket"(see next point), ensuring that full value is given to the fans and that a result is more likely should be a priority.


And so is Test on its last legs?
Well the MCC are worried, and rightly so:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hHaKOEEIxjmduMLBHBTCotCoRJ6g
It seems hard to believe as an Australian, when i see good crowds at most test days here. Sure Boxing day is the biggest day of the cricketing worlds year- a tribute to the people of Melbourne- and that the patronage has created that atmosphere, but what needs to be done around the world to get the same type of involvement? As the above article states, one (re) action maybe a world test series; logistically, what a nightmare! What do you think?

Freddie Flintoff announces retirement from Test cricket after Ashes series, to allow his body to hold up for longer playing short form cricket. Maybe part of the above problem!
Still no word as to whether he'll make it into this test.

Guys, don't forget to get your virtual side sorted before the lockout!