The NRMA Insurance Day Night Test at the Gabba drew outstanding viewing and attendance numbers as substantial audiences watched Australia and the West Indies play out a classic finish.
More than 1.4 million viewers watched during the final stages of the Test as West Indies quick Shamar Joseph and Australian batter Steve Smith fought to get their teams over the line.
That figure will grow substantially when streaming audiences across the Foxtel Group on Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go and Foxtel Now are taken into account.
Seven’s coverage alone of the Gabba Test reached 6.7 million viewers nationally across the four days, while total viewing figures were up 10% on last year’s pink-ball Test in Adelaide on Seven and Foxtel.
The Women’s T20 between Australia and South Africa reached 1.11 million people on Seven – the biggest for a women’s international in Australia in the past 12 months.
The total match attendance for the Brisbane Test was 67,164, the largest for a Test Match in Brisbane against West Indies, with the crowd peaking at 29,216 on day two.
Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia CEO said:
“Congratulations to Kraigg Brathwaite and the whole West Indies squad on their incredible victory in Brisbane, which was one of the most thrilling Test match finishes in recent memory.
“Test cricket remains the pinnacle of the game and produces drama like no other sport, which we saw yesterday with Shamar Joseph and Steve Smith producing two world-class performances that will no doubt become part of Australian cricket folklore.
“Throughout the summer we’ve seen incredibly competitive Test cricket, which has been matched by strong attendances, television and streaming audiences, as well as lots of kids registering for our participation programs."
The contest between Australia and West Indies will resume on Friday in Melbourne with the first men’s Dettol ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while the women’s multi-series against South Africa continues with the third T20I in Hobart before the CommBank ODI series kicks off at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Tickets are available at cricket.com.au/tickets.