Economies across the globe are not the only things going up in smoke; the stench of burning is coming from the world of cricket too, writes Bobilli Vijay Kumar in the Times of India.

The danger signs reverberated from Mohali a week ago even as India were thumping Australia. In a country that eats, drinks and burps cricket it was almost surreal to see empty stands through the Test match. Maybe it was just an aberration, a pre-Diwali quirk. But then Bangalore wasn’t bustling either; if Delhi and Nagpur don’t buoy the spirits, we can officially declare a crisis. If the crowds come back for the Champions League (there is no doubt they will for the Indian Premier League), we can all but kiss those whites goodbye.

Watching an international at most of our venues is a painful exercise. The average spectator must prepare himself for a day of torture, both mental and physical, and it is a wonder he keeps returning. Soon, fed up with the poor facilities and bad treatment, he might not. Perhaps that time is now - it was embarrassing to see the empty stands while Sachin Tendulkar went past what he considers the most significant world record of his career," writes Suresh Menon on Dreamcricket.

	Feedback