Wasn’t it wonderful to see a packed stadium and watch the enjoyment of the fans? At last Sri Lankans are starting to rid themselves of the fear and the guilt (how to enjoy when some poor fellows are risking their lives fighting the war?) of actually enjoying themselves and casting aside all inhibitions. That was the best part of the 20-20 game for me!

This is how cricket (particularly the instant version) should be watched and enjoyed! It reminds me of the good times in Australia and South Africa. Well done Sri Lankan cricket fans!

The Sri Lanka Cricket should look at a few outstanding matters regarding spectator comfort and they will begin to fill the grounds even for the test matches.

(1) Consider playing the test matches in the provinces because :

(a) Colombo is too hot and uncomfortable to sit at the cricket all day.

(b) Colombo people are too busy to attend test matches for 5 days.

(c) The weather is much more pleasant in Kandy and Dambulla for sure and even in Galle with the sea breeze.

(d) It is mainly television rights that bring in the money for test matches, hence the experiment will not lose any money and only stands to gain some.

(e) People in the provinces are starved for entertainment and also have more time to spend on leisure. Tap this market and help to popularise TEST cricket which is the very essence of the game we love.

(2) Consider selling session by session tickets for the test match and market the sessions. People who buy session tickets will sit in a special area that has to be cleared out after every session. Market your sessions: for example I know people who have told me very proudly that they have not missed the first session of the Gabba test for 10 years. To do this SLC needs to look closely at the weather and schedule the first test of a new year for example in Dambulla. This must happen every year and the fans will then know to schedule their time accordingly. Cricket Australia does this the first test is at the Gabba in Brisbane. Run advertisements every day and market the test match pro actively. For example watch the new ball on the first day of a test match or watch the spinners on the last day etc.

Right now we are resorting to the age old methods that everyone uses. Entrance ticket draws, banners, catches etc this is good but let’s go a step further and use the conditions that are unique to our country.   

SLC also has to take responsibility for providing adequate parking and entrance to the grounds because debacles like what happened at the 20-20 game at Khettarama with the Police baton charging the crowd who had valid tickets will negate all this and keep people in front of their television sets forever!