Winter Ashes on track to become most-watched series ever played in Oz, says CA

Wellington: Cricket Australia (CA) has said that the ongoing winter Ashes series is on track to be the most-watched and most-followed series ever played in Australia.

According to figures released by CA, the Nine Network`s coverage has attracted an average of 1.55 million viewers per day across metropolitan and regional Australia, while the third Test in Perth, where Australia regained the Ashes, drew a series-high average peak of 2.37 million on the third day of play. Stuff.co.nz reports that CA said Cricket Australia Live: The Official App , has been downloaded more than 500,000 times since early November, adding that 3.33 million users have visited either the CA website or App. CA further said that there has been 127 million page views on cricket.com.au while fans have accessed video content 3.8 million times since 1 November, adding that the series has also been one of the most discussed, debated and followed events on social media. CA chief James Sutherland said that given the enthusiastic response for the Ashes from the Australian public, all indications are that many of their key metrics will be at or close to an all-time high as they enter the Boxing Day Test. A crowd of around 90,000 is expected at the MCG on Thursday, with the world record being 90,800 and a total of 360,200 people have attended the first three Tests in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, the report added.