November 26, 2024: The 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener in Perth has shattered records, both in attendance and viewership, demonstrating the growing global appeal and fervor surrounding the India-Australia Test rivalry. Here are some of the key highlights from the opening days:
Perth Stadium saw the highest attendance for any Test match in the city, with 31,302 fans attending on Day 1 and 32,368 on Day 2, marking a 63% increase year-on-year.
The total attendance over the first two days reached an impressive 96,463, making it the second-highest total attendance ever for a Test match in Perth, and the highest at Perth Stadium.
Cricket Australia also reported that over 100,000 people attended cricket matches across the four days, with a Weber WBBL match between the Perth Scorchers and a rival team at the WACA Ground on Day 2 of the Test contributing to this milestone.
The 2024 Border-Gavaskar series has seen an unprecedented demand for tickets, with sales more than 2.5 times higher than during the 2018-19 India tour.
Public tickets for Day 1 at The Gabba in Brisbane have already sold out, reflecting the high level of interest in the series.
Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney are also expected to see large crowds, and fans are being encouraged to purchase tickets as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
Record TV and Digital Viewership:
The Perth Test dominated the national TV ratings, with seven sessions averaging over 1 million viewers across all platforms, including Seven, 7plus Sport, Foxtel, Foxtel Go, Foxtel Now, and Kayo Sports.
The third session on Day 1 alone attracted 1.6 million viewers nationally, marking one of the highest audience peaks for Test cricket in recent years.
Overall, viewership increased by 30% year-on-year compared to the 2023 Perth Test against Pakistan, underscoring the rising interest in the format.
Digital Engagement:
- Cricket Australia’s digital platforms saw a massive spike in engagement, with 2.7 million Australian users visiting cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app during the first few days of the Test.
- Globally, 8.4 million users accessed the platforms, further demonstrating the worldwide popularity of the series.
- On social media, 259 million video views were recorded across Cricket Australia’s channels, setting a new benchmark for engagement.
The combination of record-breaking attendance, significant increases in viewing figures, and unprecedented engagement on digital platforms reflects the growing enthusiasm for Test cricket and the special allure of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The high demand for tickets and the level of fan interest suggest that this series will continue to set new milestones in the coming days.
