Edgbaston facing 10,000 empty seats

County chief executives are blaming the cramped schedule for the India series for sluggish ticket sales that will lead possibly to up to 10,000 empty seats on the first two days of the Edgbaston Test.

This match starts tomorrow, while the third at Trent Bridge begins on a Saturday and the fifth at the Oval on a Friday. Counties prefer the regular Thursday start, which gives a neat balance between corporate sales and general public.

But because India are due to play in the Asia Cup days after the fifth Test, this series has been squeezed into six weeks. Edgbaston has a capacity of 25,000 but Neil Snowball, the chief executive, believes an attendance of around 17,000 is possible on the first two days.

Day three is sold out and Saturday is selling better than a fourth day usually does because it is Edgbaston’s designated party day, when fans are encouraged to wear fancy dress.

“We have been impacted by the Wednesday start and this series will throw up the debate about regularity of scheduling,” said Snowball. “Overall we will do around 70,000 tickets altogether. It is just days one and two that sales are not what we would normally expect.”

The India fans may not be turning out in the numbers you would see for a one-day series, but to their players this is a crucial series. Winning would add real gloss to their status as world No1 but just one three-day game against Essex looks scant preparation, particularly as their Sunday net session was washed out.

“We’ve had decent practice,” insisted batsman Ajinkya Rahane. “More than skills, it’s about our mindset, especially playing here in England, and how quickly you adjust and handle the situation. I feel that in terms of skill both teams are on par. It will be a test of our mind and character.”