There is nothing more depressing in cricket than to watch an enthralling Test match with the unfortunate backdrop of an empty stadium.
Most recently, the England-Sri Lanka Test series came under scanner for unaffordable prices for Day 4 that started at about £95 and ranged up to £140. It was estimated that around “9,000 people turned up to a venue that holds more than 30,000.”
That got me thinking—How expensive is it to watch cricket around the world?
To conduct this analysis, I went through the checkout process and attempted to buy tickets for different types of matches in the first 10 Test playing nations
Key Takeaways
- England & Australia are the most expensive places to watch cricket (they also have the most opportunities to watch along with India). Ticket prices can range from $185-1400 in a season for England to watch a couple of days of Tests, a few County matches, a few Hundred & Vitality Blast games, and 2-3 limited over internationals.
- On the other hand, in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe, a fan can watch matches for as low as $1 USD and can watch several games in a season for about $100 on the higher end.
- Watching domestic cricket is completely FREE in India, New Zealand, and South Africa (both List A & 4-day). All you need to do is show up at the stadium (So GO, what are you waiting for?)
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Cost of Watching Cricket: Most Expensive Places to Watch Cricket Around the World
We will provide ranges and consider a few different categories (if data is available):
- Limited Over Internationals (LOI) – both men’s & women’s
- Test Matches
- Domestic Competitions
- Franchise Leagues
For the sake of the cost comparison, we will be looking at General Admission ticket for Adult guests (in some countries like England, ‘members’ of the club receive discounted prices given that they have paid the annual membership fee). This analysis does not include member prices, bundles, or other discounts (or service/handling fees & taxes).
To make a relative comparison, we will also looked at the data for monthly cost of living data according to World Population Review, the inflation rate on average consumer prices (annual percent change) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the average monthly net salary by Numbeo (the average salary is likely higher than the median salary).
Note: These are ballpark ranges. Ticket prices may vary based on the match (for example, knockout and Finals matches may be more expensive) and the stadium.
Also Read: Major League Cricket: Where to Buy Major League Cricket (MLC) 2023 Tickets?, Top 11 Richest Cricket Leagues (By Average Salaries)
1. England ($185-1400)
If a spectator in England watched 2 days of a men’s Test, 5 County games, 1 men’s international, 2 Vitality Blast matches, 2 Hundred matches, 1 ODI cup, one women’s international, and 1 Women’s Hundred match in a season, they would spend (on tickets alone) between $185-$504 depending on the stadium and up to $1393.3 if they only chose premium seating.
- Monthly Cost of Living: $1929
- Average Monthly Net Salary: $3288.55
- Annual Inflation Rate: 2.5%
- Estimated Monthly Savings: $1359.55
- Percent of Savings Spent on Cricket (Live): 4.54%-34.16%
(Calculation Example: $185/3 months ~= 61.67/1359.55 ~= 4.54%)
*These economic numbers are for the United Kingdom as a whole, not just England.
| Type of Match | General Admission Ticket Price (Adult) | Premium Tickets |
| A Day of a Test | £10-85 ($13.3-113.1) | £95-145 ($126.6-192.9) |
| Men’s LOI | £20-40 ($26.6) | £135 ($179.9) |
| Women’s LOI | £5-10 ($6.7-13.3) | £65 ($86.6) |
| County | £6-15 ($8.0-20.0) | £23 ($30.6) |
| Vitality Blast | £15-25 ($20-33.3) | £150 ($199.5) |
| The Hundred | £11 ($14.7) | £35 ($46.6) |
| One Day Cup | £5-20 ($6.7-26.6) | £37 ($49.2) |
How Did We Estimate the Ticket Price Range?
The international costs above are estimated from the upcoming England-Zimbabwe Test, India-England Women T20I series, and the men’s South Africa-England series, while the domestic costs are a ballpark number based on perusing several County’s websites.
Note: The prices for domestic price tickets in England vary vastly based on the County/stadium. For example, Kia Oval is at the more expensive side: £15-20 for County Championship matches, £32-40 for Vitality Blast, £40-85 for a men’s T20I, £18-30 for a women’s T20I, and £85-145 for a Test match.
The MCC is now reviewing the ticket pricing structure after the widespread empty stands.
Other Costs: Car Parking (£5+), Guided Tours: (£0-30), Full Season Membership (£240-270), Food, Drinks, Concessions (varies)
Where To Buy Tickets: Tickets can be purchased on the County, stadium, or ECB website. For international matches, you have to enter a ballot and hence, may not be guaranteed a ticket if there is high demand.
Exchange Rate: £1 = $1.33 (As of 9/22/2024)
Sources: Trent Bridge Tickets, England vs Zimbabwe 2025, India-England Women’s T20I, SA-Eng 2025 Tickets, County Championship, One Day Cup Final, The Hundred Pricing, Hampshire Ticket Prices, Essex Ticket Prices
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2. Australia ($180-$900)
If a cricket fan in Australia went to watch 2 days of a men’s Test, 1 ODI, 1 Sheffield Shield match, 2 BBL matches, one women’s international, and 1 WBBL match in a season, they would spend (on tickets alone) at least $180 AUD ($122.6 USD) and as much as $900 $(613 USD) if they chose the premium seating.
- Monthly Cost of Living: $1,944
- Average Monthly Net Salary: $3,819.73
- Annual Inflation Rate: 3.5%
- Estimated Monthly Savings: $1875.73
- Percent of Savings Spent on Cricket (Live): 2.2%-10.89%
Day 4 Tickets: For the Boxing Day Test MCG, the General Admission has a starting price for $30 with reserve stands as high as $85.
| Type of Match | General Admission Ticket Price (Adult) | Premium Tickets/Lounge/SkyDeck |
| A Day of a Test | $30 AUD ($20.4 USD) | $170 AUD ($115.8 USD) |
| Men’s LOI | $30 ($20.4) | $170 ($115.8) |
| Women’s LOI | $20 ($13.6) | |
| Domestic Cricket | $10 ($6.8) | |
| Franchise Cricket (BBL) | $27.5 ($18.7) | $165 ($112.4) |
| WBBL | $10 ($6.8) |
*Note: For some Tests (for example, Adelaide BGT, there are ‘Twilight Adult’ prices if the entry is after 5 PM at a discounted price of $22.5).
Exchange Rate: $1 AUD = $0.68 USD
Sources/Where to Buy Tickets: Cricket.com.au, Sheffield Shield Ticket Prices, Big Bash Tickets
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3. New Zealand ($109-160)
Watching 2 days of a Test, 2 SuperSmash matches, a men’s limited overs game, and a women’s limited over game can cost anywhere between $109 to $160 in a season.
- Monthly Cost of Living: $1782
- Average Monthly Net Salary: $3156.96
- Annual Inflation Rate: 3.1%
- Estimated Monthly Savings: $1,374.96
- Percent of Savings Spent on Cricket (Live): 1.96%-2.81%
| Type of Match | General Admission Ticket Price (Adult) | Premium Tickets |
| A Day of a Test | $45 NZD ($28 US) | $70 NZD ($43.6) |
| Men’s LOI | $35 ($21.8) | $65 ($40.5) |
| Women’s LOI | $20 ($12.5) | |
| Domestic Cricket | FREE | |
| SuperSmash | $15 ($9.4) |
*Note: A Test Match Pass (all 5 days) can be purchased, which ranges from $145-220 NZD.
Entry to Plunkett Shield (first class) and Ford Trophy (List A) are free.
Exchange Rate: $ 1 NZD = $0.62 USD
Where to Get NZC Tickets & Sources: NZC Ticket Pricing Summary, NZC Test Tickets, NZ-SL T20 Tickets, SuperSmash Ticket Prices NZ, NZ Domestic Cricket Tickets
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4. West Indies ($59-564)
Watching 2 days of a men’s Test, 1 ODI, and 2 CPL matches in the Caribbean would cost between $59-564 over the course of a season.
- Monthly Cost of Living: $979 (Trinidad & Tobago), $1,153 (Saint Lucia), $803 (Guyana), $1,145 (Saint Kitts & Nevis), $1,465 (Antigua & Barbuda), $829 (Jamaica), $1,258 (Barbados)
- Average Monthly Net Salary: $1470.64 (T & T), $1295 (St. Lucia)
- Annual Inflation Rate: 1.5% (T&T), 1.8% (St. Lucia), 2.5% (St. K&N) 2.6% (A&B)
- Estimated Monthly Savings: $100-500
*The savings, cost of living, and salary varies from nation to nation in the Caribbean
| Type of Match | General Admission Ticket Price (Adult) | Premium Tickets |
| A Day of a Test | $10 | $50 |
| Men’s LOI | $15 | $100 |
| CPL | $12 | $182 |
Sources: West Indies Cricket Tickets, CPL Tickets, India-WI Test 2023
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5. South Africa ($44-89)
Two days of a men’s Test, 1 Men’s ODI, 1 Women’s ODI, and 2 SA20 matches in Bangladesh would cost a spectator somewhere in the range of $44-89 in one season.
- Monthly Cost of Living: $974
- Average Monthly Net Salary: $1446.04
- Annual Inflation Rate: 4.9%
- Estimated Monthly Savings: $472.04
- Percent of Savings Spent on Cricket (Live): 3.1%-6.3%
| Type of Match | General Admission Ticket Price (Adult) | Premium Tickets |
| A Day of a Test | ZAR 190 ($10.9) | ZAR 230 ($13.2) |
| Men’s LOI | ZAR 160 ($9.2) | ZAR 350 ($20.1) |
| Women’s LOI | ZAR 25 ($1.4) | ZAR 80 ($4.6) |
| Domestic Cricket | FREE | |
| SA20 | ZAR 100 ($5.7) | ZAR 330 ($19) |
Exchange Rate: $1 USD = 17.4 ZAR
Sources: South Africa-Pakistan Test, SA-Pak T20, Women’s ODI Prices, SA20 Qualifier Prices, CSA 4-day
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6. India ($30-294)
In India, watching 2 days of a men’s Test, 1 ODI, 2 IPL matches, 1 women’s international, and 1 WPL match in a season, would cost (on tickets alone) between $30-140 on the lower end and about $294 on the higher end over a season. Keep in my end, that or certain IPL teams like RCB, tickets can go as high as $634 alone!
- Monthly Cost of Living: $423
- Average Monthly Net Salary: $633.49
- Annual Inflation Rate: 4.6%
- Estimated Monthly Savings: $210.49
- Percent of Savings Spent on Cricket (Live): 14.25%+
*This is a bit skewed since population of India has widespread economic disparity. Those who can probably afford to purchase tickets are the only ones that would purchase those premium/VIP tickets.
| Type of Match | General Admission Ticket Price (Adult) | Premium/VIP |
| A Day of a Test | INR 125-200 ($1.5-2.4) | INR 1000-2000 ($12-24) |
| LOI | INR 750 ($9) | INR 10000 ($119.8) |
| Women’s International | FREE* | INR 150 ($1.8) |
| Domestic Cricket | FREE | |
| IPL | INR 700-5000 ($8.4-60) | INR 5000-52938 ($59.9-$634.4) |
| WPL | INR 100-500 ($1.2-6) |
As per Hindustan Times, “Pricing is decided as per demand and supply, affordability, culture, and the eagerness of the people to pay” when it comes to IPL prices. Hence, there is a wide range in IPL tickets depends on which player/teams are playing and when the ticket has been purchased.
Here are some other notes:
- Non-international matches are free to attend.
- *The entry to women’s Test between India & South Africa was free, while the T20Is were priced for INR 150.
Exchange Rate: 1 INR = $0.01 USD ($1 USD = 83.44 INR)
Sources: Ind-Ban 1st Ticket Ticket Prices, India-NZ Wankhede Ticket Prices, IPL Ticket Prices, India-South Africa Women’s Series, India-Australia 2023 T20I Prices
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7. Pakistan ($20-155)
Watching 2 days of a men’s Test, 1 ODI, and 2 PSL matches in Pakistan would cost between $20-155 over the course of a season.
- Monthly Cost of Living: $370
- Average Monthly Net Salary: $182.81
- Annual Inflation Rate: 24.8%
- Estimated Monthly Debt: $187.19
*No savings if we go by the averages above
| Type of Match | General Admission Ticket Price (Adult) | Premium Tickets |
| A Day of a Test | PKR 500 ($1.8) | PKR 2800 ($10.1) |
| LOI | PKR 500 ($1.8) | PKR 7500 ($27) |
| Women’s International | FREE | |
| Domestic Cricket | FREE | PKR 1600 ($5.8) |
| PSL | PRK 2000 ($7.20) | PKR 15000 ($54) |
*Note: The premium tickets do not include the hospitality individual boxes. Those tickets can go 5-10x as high as the premium tickets.
Exchange Rate: $1 USD = 277.87 PKR
Sources: Pakistan-Bangladesh Tests, PSL Tickets, Champions Cup Tickets, Pak-NZ T20I Prices, Pak-SA Multan T20s
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8. Zimbabwe ($8-35)
Two days of a men’s Test and 1 Men’s ODI in Zimbabwe, 1 Women’s ODI would cost a spectator somewhere in the range of $8-35 in one season.
*Note: The salary and cost of living data for Zimbabwe is not reliable.
| Type of Match | General Admission Ticket Price (Adult) | Premium |
| Men’s LOI | $2 USD | $10 USD |
| Women’s LOI | $2 | $5 |
Sources: WC Qualifier, Zimbabwe-Bangladesh 2021 Women’s
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9. Sri Lanka ($6-115)
In Sri Lanka, watching 2 days of a men’s Test, 1 ODI, and 2 LPL matches would cost between $5.52-$114.8 over the course of a season.
- Estimated Monthly Debt: $230.22
*No savings if we go by the averages above
| Type of Match | General Admission Ticket Price (Adult) | Premium Tickets |
| A Day of a Test | LKR 300 ($0.98) | LKR 7500 ($24.6) |
| Men’s LOI | LKR 500 ($1.6) | LKR 10000 ($32.8) |
| LPL | LKR 300 ($0.98) | LKR 5000 ($16.4) |
Exchange Rate: $1 USD = 304.8 LKR
Sources: India-Sri Lanka 2024 T20I Tickets, Lanka Premier League 2021 Tickets, 2022 LPL Ticket Range, Barmy Army ripped off by SLC, 2012 Price Hike
10. Bangladesh ($6-71)
Two days of a men’s Test, 1 ODI, and 2 BPL matches in Bangladesh would cost a spectator somewhere in the range of $6-71 in one season.
- Monthly Cost of Living: $521
- Average Monthly Net Salary: $240.50
- Annual Inflation Rate: 9.3%
- Estimated Monthly Debt: $280.5
*No savings if we go by the averages above
| Type of Match | General Admission Ticket Price (Adult) | Premium Tickets |
| A Day of a Test | BDT 100 ($0.84) | BDT 1000 ($8.4) |
| Men’s LOI | BDT 150 ($1.26) | BDT 1500 ($12.6) |
| BPL | BDT 200 ($1.68) | BDT 2500 ($20.9) |
Exchange Rate: $1 USD = 119.51 BDT
Sources: BPL Ticket Price Range, NZ-Ban Dhaka Tickets, SL-Ban ODI Tickets
How Do Other Sports Compare?
According to Statista, here is how much the average cost of tickets for some sports league range at:
Long story short, watching sports can be a fun and expensive experience.
Final Thoughts
The main thought of writing this article was to answer the question, “Is cricket affordable for the common man?”
With rising cost of living standards around the world and mobile/TV accessibility of cricket, are boards doing enough to incentivize followers to go to the ground?
In general, cricket is not as expensive as other sports. However, if Test cricket is to survive, £95 Day 4 tickets is probably not going to help.
If the trend continues, cricket will become only an elitist game. It began as an elitist game, but do we want to keep it that way?
If you are interested in cricket & finance, consider checking out the following:
- Top 12 Richest Cricket Boards (RANKED 2023): Which Cricket Board Has the Highest Net Worth—BCCI, CA, ECB, CSA, or PCB?
- Top 11 Richest Cricket Leagues (By Average Salaries). Which Cricket League Pays the Most (2024)—SA20, IPL, BBL, PSL, MLC, ILT20, CPL, T10s, or the Hundred?
- How Much Do Different Types of Cricketers Earn Per Year (2022)? Salaries of Pujara, Stokes, Warner, Billings, Tim David Revealed!
© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 07/29/2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).
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