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Just weeks after forecasting a record year ahead, Cricket Australia is facing a multi-million dollar drain from the rapid-fire two-day Ashes opener, thanks in no small part to Travis Head.
A combination of Head's all-time Ashes century and England's cavalier, reckless approach to batting with their 'Bazball' tactics led to the first game of the blockbuster series in Perth ending late on day two.
CA is headed for an estimated loss of more than $3million from ticket revenue for days three and four.
A record 101,514 attended the Test – 51,531 on Friday, then 49,983 – to surpass the record set of 96,463 in Perth last year when India won in four days.
Day three was also almost sold out.
Speaking before play on Saturday, when Australia's first innings hadn't even finished, CA chief executive Todd Greenberg half-joked he was worried about the Test not making it to day three.
Travis Head became the most popular man in Australia when his dynamite century put England to the sword in the first Ashes Test (pictured)
However, the batter's heroics at Perth Stadium are going to cost Cricket Australia millions
Instead of raking in cash from packed houses for five days, cricket bosses are in for a huge loss as the stadium (pictured) sits empty after just two days of play
'It's difficult for a number of different groups,' Greenberg told SEN when discussing the financial impact of a match finishing early.
'Our broadcasters first of all.
'Certainly us, on ticket sales and our partners and sponsors.
'There's a big economic impact on this series.'
At the annual general meeting last month, CA announced a loss of $11.3million and took strong criticism from Cricket Victoria chair Ross Hepburn for the financial performance.
The loss took in a summer that included a five-Test tour from cricketing goliath India.
'In a normal scheduling, you'd have the white-ball cricket as part of that (Test) tour, but that's being played in this financial year,' CA chair Mike Baird said after the meeting in October.
'If they were in the same financial year, you would have seen a different position.
On Saturday morning, Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg (pictured) joked that he was worried about the Test not going on into day three
Greenberg's worst-case scenario came true later that afternoon, Perth time (pictured)
'We're in a position where it's a significant uplift, an over $20million improvement.
'Hang on to your hats because next year we are going to have a record year in cricket.
'You're going to see the most attendance, the most viewership, the most sponsorship.'
Foxtel said their broadcast on Friday was the most watched first day of a first Test in their history
Channel Seven also reported strong ratings for their coverage on day one.
