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.
A combination of Travis Head's all-time Ashes knock and Bazball's cavalier, reckless approach to batting led to the first game of the blockbuster series in Perth ending late on day two.
CA are headed for an estimated loss of more than $3 million 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.
"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 $11.3 million 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 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.
"We're in a position where it's a significant uplift, an over $20 million 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
The Seven Network also reported strong ratings for their coverage on day one.
