The MCC are set to review their ticket prices for Test matches at Lord's following criticism ahead of the first Test between England and New Zealand.
Just a few days before the Test was set to begin, around 16,000 tickets were unsold across the first four days with the vast majority priced at over £100 (including for under 16s). And England supporter group the Barmy Army were critical of the pricing, suggesting it was the main reason behind the unsold tickets.
Chris Millard, managing director of the Barmy Army told the Telegraph : "We do not get tickets at Lord's as a group, but speaking to a lot of people who go every year they have been put off due to price and the cost of living crisis."
And the MCC appear to have taken on board the feedback, with a spokesman telling the Telegraph : "We are taking a sharp focus on ticket prices in light of the cost of living crisis and we want to attract more families to Lord's. It is very important for us."
In a bid to take more immediate action, the MCC have released a further 2,000 under 16s tickets for day four of the Test which are priced at £20.
When asked about the issue ahead of the Test, England captain Ben Stokes said: "The ticket prices is something that I think is going to have to be looked at properly. What is cricket without its fans? What is sport without its fans?"
England seamer Stuart Broad, meanwhile, added: "We've been incredibly supported in my career, and you want that to continue. I'm sure the prices will have to adjust to the cost of living and if stadiums get emptier, people [cricket administrators] will have to adjust."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan, however, was scathing in his assessment, suggesting Lord's should not be allowed to host two Tests each summer if they did not lower ticket prices. "If Lord's is going to continue to charge these astronomical prices then they should be under threat from other grounds who will not charge as much," he said.
"You can't keep saying 'we are Lord's, we need two Test matches a year' and then charge over £150 in the holidays, during the jubilee and during a cost of living crisis. It is scandalous that Lord’s think they can get away with a ticket price for one day of Test cricket that is the same as what you would charge for a season ticket for the Hundred."
