Second Test. England v Sri Lanka at Riverside. 27/5/16.

[Alviro Patterson]

In know AP is physically unable to be objective when Yorkshire is in discussion, but the cold hard fact is in 2014 Headingley reduced it prices on a Sunday to £20 in a game that went down to the very last over, and with a series still to play for, and 6,000 people turned up. This was, I believe, more about double the people who turned up on the last day.

Just to put that into context, its about 4,000 less than Bristol Rovers average gate was this year, despite then playing in a city with a population half the size, and competing regularly with a side ranked two divisions above them in the football league structure.... and their ticket prices being £7 higher.

This is simply madness talk. Rugby is on in Newcastle last week so no one turns up to the cricket? Sunderland ground is full tonight, so no one will turn up to CLS?

So maybe someone can explain why Middlesbrough can still get 33,500 to a game when Sunderland is also sold out on the same weekend? And if people cant afford £55 for a ticket in the North East, then can someone tell me why Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland get about 130,000 people regularly turn up for a home game on the same weekend.

Sorry, just excuse. Headingley has proved to be a rubbish venue. Hence it gets rubbish games.

Its lucky it gets that. It doesnt even deserve to host Zimbabwe in a warm up game getting 3,000 turn up on a series deciding game.

Maybe the North-East football clubs enjoy good crowds because most of their attendees are season ticket holders (who don't pay £55 a game).

As for Middlesbrough getting 33,000? Where have you been in the last few years?! Middlesbrough's average attendance has nose dived in recent years, combined with Championship football and the recession. Maybe in a one off promotion match against Brighton, but not on a regular basis.

Comparing a Football League Club who has enjoyed a successful season and their 23 game average attendances of 9,000 are made up with season ticket holders (who don't pay £27 a game) to a one off Day 4 crowd (on a Monday may I add) based on two average test nations is a bad way of putting it into context.

[Aidan11]

There goes Root.

[yuppie]

Root looked good for a 100 there. Wicket really from no where.

Chance to see how the new batting line up will go though.

[hopeforthebest]

Yes, it looks like everyone bats.

[sussexpob]

Vince throws a start away there too. REally poor shot, that ball was asking to be hit

[budgetmeansbudget]

Typical, didn't see anything of Vince in the first test, just got home from work to watch a bit of him bat, switch on the telly, first ball I watch he's bloody out.

[yuppie]

SL battling back into it.

Vince shown anything to suggest he looks good for a long test career?

[Aidan11]

We'll still get 300.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Vince throws a start away there too. REally poor shot, that ball was asking to be hit

He did hit it!!

Straight to a fielder.

[budgetmeansbudget]

We'll still get 300.

Probably get 400.

[sussexpob]

AP,

Im struggling to see the point about season ticket holders. You seem to be both arguing that people cant afford to buy a £50 ticket, but at the same time arguing that other sporting event attendances dwarfing the current ones in the same geographic area are down to people buying vastly more expensive yearly tickets. If they cant afford £50, then how are they drumming up £500-£1000 for a yearly ticket?

I think its entirely relevant to compare sporting teams across the board. I find it entirely laughable that you on one hand seem again to be suggesting that the possibility of Bristol Rovers (who actually started the season badly) fighting for promotion from the fourth tier of football is in someway far more prestigious then an international cricket match. I think if we were to poll a general populace, who is Kumar Sangakarra and who is Mark McChrystal, I know who would win.

The fact is, a match in very recent times at Headingley that ticked every box (£20 ticket, weekend, close match, away team with 2 or 3 considerable star players, series in the balance) was not only poorly attended, but embarrassingly so.

There is no reason for it other than the desire in the city is not there for cricket. After all, the city this match was hosted in is shared by the sporting team which according to recent records still provides the most away fans in the country per match, despite not being in a top tier.

If Leeds fans can afford regularly to pay £200-300 quid for an away ticket train/ticket/hotel/pre-match beers (and they drink a lot!!) then they can afford £20 quid to go to a cricket match

[sussexpob]

Vince throws a start away there too. REally poor shot, that ball was asking to be hit

He did hit it!!

Straight to a fielder.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Vince throws a start away there too. REally poor shot, that ball was asking to be hit

He did hit it!!

Straight to a fielder.

Anti Hanty!!

[sussexpob]

Anti Hanty!!

You must never have seen my recent criticism of Chris Jordan......

Vince played alright until that shot. Lost a bit of concentration, but so did Hales.

Siriwardana has bowled utter filth and has 2/20

[budgetmeansbudget]

SL battling back into it.

Vince shown anything to suggest he looks good for a long test career?

I've only seen one ball, so I can't comment.

In my opinion, from my years of following him as a Hants supporter I don't think he will make it as a test player, but obviously I hope I'm entirely wrong.