Social media erupts at empty Optus Stadium as only 16,000 spectators attend Perth Test in crash back down to arth for Australia’s team

Australia played in front of an empty Optus Stadium on Thursday and it certainly showed to cricket fans watching at home.

At the end of the game, Cricket Australia confirmed that 16,259 fans attended the first day of Pat Cummins’ side’s match against Pakistan in a match dubbed the “Western Test” by cricket bosses.

But fans were unable to turn out in droves to support the home team even though they had recently returned from India after their World Cup triumph.

Empty seats at Optus Stadium were evident for all the world to see, with fans taking to social media to discuss the low attendance at the 60,000-seat arena.

Some fans called for the first Test of the Australian summer to return to the Gabba in Brisbane, while others argued the attendance was a positive indicator on a weekday before the holidays.

A crowd of just over 16,000 attended the opening day of the Perth Test.

Empty seats were visible when David Warner scored 164 runs against Pakistan on Thursday.

“Remind me again why the first Test of the summer was moved from the Gabba?” one fan asked.

“This should be at the Gabba, period,” said another.

The devastated West Australian admitted: “Unfortunately, we don’t deserve Test cricket anymore.

“Despite the difficulties (weekday, temperature, etc.), we talk about the big game, but we don’t show up. Then we whine when we lose a test. It’s frustrating but I just don’t think we have the same passion for cricket as we used to.”

Some fans defended the attendance figures given that opening day was on a weekday, but one supporter debunked that theory.

“Let’s play all 5 days on weekends so people from Perth can come. Pathetic.’

Another fan suggested: “The match should have been played at WACA Stadium and big teams like India and England are playing at Perth Stadium where they will really draw a crowd.”

Attendance of just over 16,000 was largely in line with other opening days in Perth in past years, but outgoing WA Cricket boss Christina Matthews had hoped to pass 25,000 ahead of the first day.

Cricket fans are divided when discussing attendance figures on social media.

Cummins, who captained Australia in front of 90,000 fans in the World Cup final, was also hoping for a strong crowd.

“I’m sure it will be well supported here,” he said beforehand.

“Some of the Test matches you play in Australia, I think the school might still be here, you might not get a packed stadium, but you know they’ll be watched by millions of people.

“And that’s kind of the start of their summer, that first Test match. So we feel real support every time we play here and I’ve probably never felt as supported in the last 12 months as I did last month.”