The shortest home Tests since the 1800s will prevent Cricket Australia breaking all-time attendance records, as officials count the cost of the "unsatisfactory" MCG pitch.
Still reeling from the two-day Test in Melbourne, all eyes are now on Sydney and what head curator Adam Lewis is able to prepare for the Ashes series finale starting on Sunday.
Cricket Australia went in with a chance to break the all-time attendance record for a Test summer that had stood since the days of fans flocking to see Don Bradman bat.
But two-day Tests in Perth and Melbourne mean that mark is now impossible to reach in Sydney next week, even with the opening four days already sold out.
The first four Ashes Tests of this summer have lasted an average of 1392 balls, the shortest of any season since one-off Tests in 1878-79 and 1887-88.
Even if the SCG Test does go into a fifth day, this men's Test summer will go only 18 days, with only the COVID-affected 2020-21 summer shorter in the past 50 years.
The ICC on Monday evening ruled the Melbourne pitch "unsatisfactory", saying it favoured bowlers too much and handing it the lowest ranking for any Test pitch worldwide in 23 months.
The two-day Tests in both Perth and Melbourne are also believed to have cost CA close to $15 million in revenue in a summer meant to be a big money-spinner.
Even by conservative forecasts, the projected loss of attendees is 210,000 people, given both Perth and Melbourne were sold out for day three and healthy crowds likely for day four.
The highest-attended Test summer in Australia remains 1936-37, when the added bonus of two matches at the MCG allowed for 946,750 fans across the Ashes.
This summer currently sits at 645,559 ahead of the SCG Test, with the 47,000-seat venue set to be at capacity for the four days.
If not for the quick finishes, the projected crowds show the record would have fallen on day two or three in Sydney.
"What it shows really is there is such overwhelming demand and interest in the series," CA's head of events Joel Morrisson told AAP.
"And such a high volume of pre-sales meant we were well positioned for the biggest Australian Test series attendance of all time.
"Despite the shorter than anticipated Tests, the fact records have been broken at various venues is quite amazing and demonstrates how strong Test cricket is in this country.
"It is extraordinary that in the 13 days of Test cricket we've had so far, the current series attendance is so high."
This summer will still break last season's record for the highest-attended per day of Test cricket, with average crowds of 49,658 so far.
The five-day Adelaide Test was also the most attended of any in Australia outside of Melbourne, while the Gabba had its second biggest of all time.
The MCG's day-one crowd of 94,199 was the largest ever for a cricket match at the venue, then 92,045 arrived for day two.
And in a show of what may have been, Perth's crowd was the biggest at Optus Stadium despite the Test only lasting two days.
It comes after 99 per cent of tickets for the five T20s and three ODIs against India in October and November were sold out, with only 2000 public tickets not picked up across the eight games.
"The bigger picture is cricket is in a really strong and healthy position," Morrisson said.
"The attendance and broadcast numbers show how strong cricket is, how engaged people are, and how big of a summer it has already been.
"The series really shows cricket is the national sport and owns summer."
MOST ATTENDED AUSTRALIAN TEST SUMMERS ON RECORD BY DAILY AVERAGES
2025-26: 49,658*
2024-25: 41,894
1936-37: 36,500 (approximate figure)
2013-14: 36,392
2017-18: 34,669
2010-11: 33,959
* One Test remaining
