The Ashes effect delivered a boost to English cricket’s coffers last summer, as fans poured through the gates despite all Tests finishing inside four days.
About 75,000 more supporters watched international cricket in England in 2015 than they did the previous year, even though there was play on only 18 of the 25 days set aside for the Test matches against Australia.
England, led by Alastair Cook took a topsy-turvy series 3-2, winning in three days at both Trent Bridge and Edgbaston. According to ECB statistics, the breakdown of fans going to live international cricket ran thus: More than 560,000 fans attended the Tests against the Australia and New Zealand; 193,000 the one-day internationals and 31,000 the international Twenty20 matches.
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: “They are all good signs and there are big opportunities ahead. There’s more that can be done to draw people to watch and play cricket and improve standards across the game.”
