Yorkshire’s Test spectators should be entitled to pay Yorkshire prices

Why, all I have to do is flash my shiny ECB pass at the smiling stewards, who cheerfully search my bag for bombs and missiles before granting me access to the theatre of dreams.

The average man in the street, however, is not so lucky.

He had to pay a minimum of £40 a ticket for the first three days and £30 for yesterday’s play.

Staring at the banks of empty blue and white seats at the famous ground yesterday, where only 6,000 watched day four of the New Zealand Test on a Bank Holiday Monday, the inescapable conclusion was that ticket prices are frankly too high.

Only 10,000 tickets were sold for the opening day, 13,000 for day two and 8,000 for day three, which, in the 16,000-capacity Headingley stadium, does not look groovy.

Any criticism of Yorkshire, however, must be tempered by the fact they made tremendous efforts to promote the match and that Headingley actually has the cheapest Test tickets in England this summer.

Although prices are obviously higher for the forthcoming Ashes series, which has traditionally been the hottest ticket in town, it is not as though Yorkshire have taken advantage of cricket lovers in the Broad Acres and beyond.

To his credit, Mark Arthur, the club’s new chief executive, has pledged to look at prices ahead of next summer’s Headingley Test against Sri Lanka.

“We’ve got to make sure that Headingley looks good to the world of cricket and a half-empty stadium doesn’t do that,” he admitted.

“The dilemma for Test match grounds is that we’ve got to raise so much money to pay for staging the event, and we’ve got to raise enough money to put back into the fabric of the grounds.

“My judgment between now and setting the prices for the Sri Lanka Test is where do I fix the price point, and I will be looking at everything with a fresh pair of eyes.”

With television income providing the major share of the game’s income, there is a strong argument that clubs should be able – and even encouraged – to slash prices to ensure grounds are full.

Counties have to pay a certain amount of money to stage games, with ticket prices determined accordingly.

Although the ECB must shoulder greater responsibility, Yorkshire must also sharpen up their act.

Arthur is keen to address the perceived disconnect with cricket watchers in the county and to improve the overall spectator experience at Headingley.

There are other considerations.

How many people really want to watch a Test match against New Zealand in May, even with Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow playing for England?

New Zealand are among the also-rans of world cricket, while England are hardly the sparkling draw card they were a few years ago.

For all the strides that have been made to improve the stadium, Headingley is still the Marmite of international grounds: you either like it or you don’t.

And, for those who can afford it, there must be a strong temptation simply to sit at home and watch the outstanding coverage available for viewing on satellite television.

Ticket prices, however, should ideally reflect the location of the match.

The average house price in Leeds is £170,000; in London it is £374,000.

There is a similar discrepancy between average salaries.

Yorkshire cricket lovers should be paying Yorkshire prices for their tickets and refreshments.