The collective cheers of Indian fans after Nitish Kumar Reddy’s first hundred are something he has never heard at the MCG and outgoing Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said on Sunday it vindicated the decision to add a Test to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy . The CA’s decision to increase the number of Tests for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from four to five has proven to be a masterstroke as attendance and viewership records are set to surpass the hallowed Ashes.

“I would like to thank everyone who came. The atmosphere last night when Nitish Kumar Reddy scored his hundred, the roar of the crowd was nothing I have ever heard,” Hockley said in an exclusive interaction with PTI.

The previous record viewership (over five days) for a Boxing Day Test is 271,865 against England in 2013, and the fourth Test involving India has already recorded 255,462 viewers.

With two days left, CA expects attendance to be well over 300,000.

Hockley couldn’t be more thrilled.

“I am absolutely thrilled with the number of fans who have come from all over India. “It was an absolutely incredible atmosphere as we had over a quarter of a million people pouring through the gates and that continued on days one, two and three,” said Hockley.

“This Border-Gavaskar Trophy had the largest Boxing Day crowd ever to attend the Ashes and the series is now sensitive enough to live up to all the hype.” Hockley, who had a good working relationship with the BCCI, said it was a given that the four-Test series between India and Australia would turn into a five-match series given the huge fan following.

“I think it speaks to the relationship between India and Australia and fans are always happy to see these two teams. The five Test series is what the fans and the players deserve. This series will probably live on as far as Sydney.

“We didn’t have a full fifth day because we still had some unfinished business. I thank and am very grateful to the BCCI for agreeing to play a five-Test series. I hope it stays that way for the rest of time.”

Days 1, 2 and 3 in Sydney were almost sold out

Rain is forecast during the New Year’s Test in Sydney but even then, the Indian diaspora will flock to the ground as there are very few tickets left for the first three days.

“Sydney will be very, very busy. I believe there are very few tickets left for days one, two and three. We encourage people to get their tickets quickly if they want to come on day four.

“There is a wonderful Indian community in Sydney and we expect a similar atmosphere to MCG,” he noted.

I am excited about the prospects of cricket being included in Brisbane 2032

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will see the reintroduction of cricket at the quadrennial extravaganza and Hockley, along with current ICC chairman Jay Shah, is also in talks with the Brisbane 2032 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to promote the sport to remain in the squad for the games.

“I’m really excited for cricket to be in Los Angeles in 2028. It will be great. It will be an opportunity to introduce cricket to a global audience and we are delighted to host the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. We are hopeful and excited about the prospects of cricket being part of Brisbane 2032.” “It’s an exciting time for cricket and the Olympics. We want more people to see our great game. T20 cricket for men and women provides incredible entertainment and was the starting point of our discussion about how we can help grow the game globally,” Hockley concluded.

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