Perth Lord Mayor takes cheeky swipe at Boxing Day cricket crowd figure

Sports commentator turned Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has taken a cheeky swipe at the crowd figure at the opening day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan.

62,167 fans turned up to the MCG on Monday, beating the combined crowd figure of 59,125 which attended all four days of the opening match of the current series in Perth earlier this month.

But despite that, Zempilas explained why so many people out west are unhappy with criticism about the crowds which attended the first Test at Optus Stadium.

Click PLAY to hear Shane McInnes’ full thoughts and Basil Zempilas’ response

Hmmmm. What’s their excuse? Not like you can go to the beach?

— Basil Zempilas (@BasilZempilas) December 26, 2023

“Believe it or not it was a record attendance for an Australian Test match against Pakistan in Perth,” he told Shane McInnes on 3AW Mornings.

“It surpassed what we’ve previously been able to muster.”