MCC survey proves interest in World Test Championship

Date released: 5 November 2009

In October 2009, MCC commissioned research into the reasons attendances at Test cricket were declining in parts of the world.

The MCC World Cricket Committee, which has met this week in Dubai, has called for a World Test Championship and for the trialing of day/night Test Cricket.

• Read the full research report (371 KB)

A survey of 1,500 cricket in India, New Zealand and South Africa shows:

• Strong support for a World Test Championship
• Strong support for day/night Test cricket
• T20 cricket has helped to diminish the following of Test cricket
• ODI cricket is the most popular format in South Africa and New Zealand
• Test cricket is comfortably the least popular format in all three countries
• Slow over rates, drawn games and bland pitches are not major reasons why fans are not attending Test matches
• Ticket prices are a major reason for non-attendance, particularly when games can be watched on television

Read more detailed analysis of each section of the research:

1. World Test Championship
2. Day/night Tests
3. Cricket fans and their favourite forms of cricket
4. Factors influencing decision whether or not to attend a Test match

About the research

MCC commissioned research in October 2009 into the reasons why attendances at Test cricket were declining in parts of the world.

Test attendances in Australia and England remain strong and so the initial research centred on cricket fans in three countries: India, New Zealand and South Africa.

The research for MCC was carried out online by TNS Sports amongst a representative sample of cricket enthusiasts in India, New Zealand and South Africa.

A total of 1,516 online surveys were completed among cricket followers across India (509), New Zealand (502) and South Africa (505).