David Warner took to social media on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, to criticise the low turnout at the ongoing Test series between South Africa and Australia, describing the crowds as 'pathetic'. The former Australia opener's post drew attention to empty stands that have been visible throughout the series so far.
The first Test at Kingsmead, which has a capacity of 25,000, drew fewer than 20,000 spectators across five days. The second Test is being played at St George's Park in Gqeberha, which has a capacity of 19,000, and has been affected by rain over its first two days.
"We keep hearing how important Test cricket is, but where are the fans in South Africa? Empty stands, no atmosphere, and we’re supposed to believe the format is thriving? You can’t keep calling Test cricket the pinnacle of the game if no one turns up to watch it. Harsh reality, but someone has to say it. Pathetic," Warner wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Why have the crowds been so low at these Tests?
Several factors have been identified as contributing to the poor attendance. South Africa are hosting Tests in October for the first time, a scheduling shift driven by calendar pressures. The SA20 league occupies most of January and February, while the IPL begins in March, squeezing Test windows into less traditional periods of the year. This was also South Africa's first home Test since January 2025 and their first at home since becoming World Test Champions. Former England captain Michael Atherton described the situation as 'a worrying sign' and noted the context surrounding the series. Fellow former England captain Nasser Hussain raised a practical concern about the matchday experience.
"It started on a Friday, was played over the weekend. It's the number one and number two ranked teams in the world, the first Test match at home for South Africa since becoming world champions. Plus there was all the context of it being the first Test between these two in South Africa since the infamous [ball-tampering] 2018 series," Atherton said on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
"What can we do to make sure that sitting in a stand on a hot day is very much a good experience for the people that have paid their money? That they're sitting there at 5.30pm and not been sent home at 3.30pm due to bad light? Even sometimes out in India the crowds aren't full. Pakistan, we went out there after however many years [of them not hosting Tests], England were back and they weren't sold out. But people there care deeply about their Test side," Hussain said on the same show.
What action has been taken following the low attendance?
Following the poorly attended first Test in Durban, the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union (KZNCU) launched a thorough internal review into the sparse crowds. The union acknowledged that the Test match deserved greater support from the public.
"This is something we will reflect on as a Union, through a thorough internal review, and as a cricket community. We need to listen to our supporters, reconnect with our communities, and continue to find ways to make Test cricket more accessible, engaging and appealing to families and cricket lovers of all ages," Heinrich Strydom, KZNCU CEO, said in a statement.
Warner himself is no stranger to controversy in South Africa. He was vice-captain during Australia's 2018 tour of South Africa and was found to have led the plot to alter the condition of the ball during the ball-tampering scandal, including guiding fellow opener Cameron Bancroft on how to use the sandpaper. Warner received a one-year ban and was told he would never be considered for a leadership position within the team again. His latest comments have reignited debate about the health of Test cricket in South Africa at a time when the host nation are the reigning World Test Champions.
