ENG vs SA: ECB set to lose £4 million if Oval Test gets called-off

Day 1 of third Test was abandoned due to inclement rain (PC: Twitter)

The third and final Test between England and South Africa got off to a bad start, with Day one being abandoned due to inclement rain all day without a ball being bowled. 

Ben Stokes-led England won the toss and elected to field first in the decider, with the series level at 1-1.

Furthermore, day two of the Test was called off due to the untimely passing away of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which was announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as a mark of respect for their late premier.

Finances take a blow 

It is now being reported by the Daily Mail that the ECB is in line to suffer losses worth £4m in case the Oval Test is called off. Neither the ECB nor Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC) are insured for a Test cancelation due to the death of a monarch. The authorities will need to refund all the tickets as well.

A single Test match generated roughly £1.3 in ticket sales and £1m in hospitality, apart from earning £ 500,000 per day in alcohol and catering sales.

England already have a jam-packed 2023 season, with The Ashes and a one-off Test against Ireland, making it impossible to fit in a rescheduled Test in case this match against South Africa gets called off.

Also Read: WTC 2022-23 Final Likely To Move From Lord's To The Oval