The two-day Perth Test, an unusually brief affair, has left Cricket Australia with a $4m shortfall and broadcasters scrambling for content, but it has also opened up unexpected opportunities for English fans to explore Western Australia. With the match ending early, thousands of travelling supporters have turned to side trips, boosting local tourism in regions like Margaret River and Rottnest Island.
Barmy Army tour group managing director Chris Millard noted the upside: “When the cricket finishes early, you get more time to see the city and see the place you’re in.” His organisation now works with local tourism groups to offer optional excursions on days that would have been Test play. Around 40,000 English fans are in Australia for the series, and their newfound free time has attracted interest from other destinations.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate made a playful pitch to the Barmy Army on Tuesday, inviting them to enjoy beach cricket and barbecues if the Brisbane Test also ends prematurely. “With the way things have been going lately, the Barmy Army might have plenty of free time,” he said, referencing England’s aggressive Bazball approach under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.
The impact of early finishes extends beyond tourism. Cricket Australia lost an estimated $3-4m from the shortened Perth Test, and while it has insurance for wet weather, there is no cover for England’s attacking style. One former cricket administrator remarked that no insurer would underwrite Tests against England. Channel 7, which broadcast the match, saw record ratings but had to fill its schedule with WBBL and a highlights special after the early finish.
Meanwhile, the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association reported a surge of English visitors returning on the two days that would have been the third and fourth of the Test. Chief executive Sharna Kearney said the experience may encourage repeat visits: “It’s not necessarily how long they’re here this time, the experience that they have … they’d love to come back at another time.”
