Australia’s dominant 3-1 victory over India in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy didn’t just delight cricket lovers — it also set new records for TV viewership. According to Cricket Australia (CA), the five-match Test series drew the largest television audience for a Test series since Seven and Fox Sports began broadcasting in 2018.
Unprecedented TV and Digital Engagement
CA reported that more than two million viewers tuned in for at least eight sessions of the series in Australia. Additionally, over 40 sessions attracted audiences of a million or more. Indian viewers also made a major impact, with JioStar reporting a huge rise in viewership compared to the last time Australia hosted the Border-Gavaskar series.
CA’s digital platforms experienced a surge in engagement as well. Since November 22, the governing body’s social media channels racked up more than two billion video views and 168 million engagements — a year-over-year increase of 205% and 150%, respectively. Cricket Australia (CA) gained an impressive two million new followers on its digital channels during the series, marking a huge boost in online engagement.
Nick Hockley, CA’s chief executive, shared his enthusiasm about how successful the series had been. “We knew this would be an extraordinary series, but the size of the crowds, viewing audiences, and digital engagement across all CA channels has exceeded our highest expectations,” he said.
ICC Releases Pitch Ratings
The series wasn’t just a hit on screens. Fans flocked to stadiums in large numbers, with a total attendance of 837,879 people across the five venues. This made it the fourth-highest-attended Test series in Australia’s history and the most-attended non-Ashes series.
After the series, the ICC released its ratings for all five venues used in the Tests. Perth’s Optus Stadium, Adelaide Oval, Brisbane’s Gabba, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) all earned “Very Good” ratings for providing excellent playing conditions.
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The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), however, fell short. It received a “Satisfactory” rating due to widespread criticism of the pitch. Players and commentators raised concerns about how quickly the surface deteriorated, making it difficult for batters and falling below the expected standards for Test matches.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy’s overwhelming success has reignited talks about changing how Test cricket is structured. Reports indicate that Australia, India, and England are discussing a two-tier Test format with ICC chair Jay Shah. The idea, which was first proposed in 2016, would have the top nations playing each other more regularly to keep the level of competition high.
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