December 10, 2024: The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Adelaide Test has set new benchmarks for viewership and attendance, underscoring the immense popularity of the series and the growing global appetite for top-tier cricket. The day/night Test match between Australia and India attracted record numbers across broadcast and digital platforms, highlighting the excitement and passion surrounding this iconic rivalry.
According to Cricket Australia (CA), six of the seven sessions of the Adelaide Test averaged over 1 million viewers across all platforms, with four of those sessions surpassing 1.4 million viewers. This level of engagement is a testament to the global following of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which continues to draw massive audiences both in Australia and abroad.
In addition, the digital channels of CA saw robust engagement, with an average of 1.1 million Australian users tuning in across the three days of the Test. The total video views from Australian users increased by 17% compared to the first Test of the series, despite the Adelaide Test finishing earlier. 208 million video views were recorded across CA’s social media platforms, and the network gained 216,000 new followers—a clear indication of the growing online presence and appeal of Australian cricket.
The Adelaide Oval saw unprecedented attendance for this historic Test. The total attendance across three days was 135,012, breaking the previous record of 113,009 set during the 2014-15 series between Australia and India. Notably, both Day 1 and Day 2 set new single-day attendance records for a Test against India, with 50,186 spectators on Day 1 and 51,642 on Day 2. These figures rank as the third and fifth highest single-day attendances for any Test match at Adelaide Oval.
The enthusiasm from the crowd and the energy in the stadium mirrored the intensity of the match, with Australia completing a 10-wicket victory to level the series 1-1. The atmosphere at the Adelaide Oval was electric, with fans treated to high-quality cricket, including a brilliant seven-wicket performance by Pat Cummins.
Adding an emotional element to the Adelaide Test, “The Boy from Macksville,” a documentary celebrating the life of late Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, was launched after play on Day 1. The tribute to Hughes, who tragically passed away in 2014, was watched by an average of 350,000 viewers, bringing further attention to the emotional ties between the Australian team and its fallen star.
With the Adelaide Test setting new records, the excitement is building for the next big matches in the series. Public tickets for the MCG‘s Boxing Day Test are in high demand, with a limited number of tickets set to be released on December 24, offering one last chance for non-members to secure their seats. Similarly, tickets for the New Year’s Test at the SCG are selling fast, with limited Category A and Category B tickets available for Days 1 to 3.
This surge in demand for tickets at major venues like the MCG and SCG reflects the growing popularity of Test cricket and the gripping nature of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Adelaide Test’s success, both in terms of viewership and attendance, has set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the series.
The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy has lived up to its billing as one of the most exciting and high-profile cricket series. With Australia’s commanding win in Adelaide, the series is now level at 1-1, and the next Tests at the MCG and SCG are expected to draw even more fans and viewers. Cricket fans around the world are eagerly anticipating more action as the two cricketing powerhouses battle it out for supremacy.
