NO sooner had Ian Bell begun ripping into the Australian bowling attack in Friday's one-day international than another unexpected phenomenon was materialising beyond the boundary rope.
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Wandering among the crowd at Bellerive Oval was an army of volunteers in Cricket Australia apparel dispensing free water, sun-screen and lollies.
And the jets of water sprayed over the sun-drenched spectators were as refreshing as the change of attitude from the sport's governing body.
Contrast this approach to previous years when patrons turned up to watch overly officious security personnel systematically pouring all their water drinks down the drain.
But suddenly it was almost as if the spectators were being valued rather than tolerated.
CA had discovered PR.
After years of mistreating the paying customer and then wondering why numbers were declining, they may have had a light bulb moment.
It was like David Warner suddenly learning respect.
"Gone were the big signs detailing everything they weren't allowed to bring (umbrellas, beachballs, water, smiles etc), replaced by offerings to make their visit as enjoyable as possible."
Fans were being given incentives to go to games instead of plenty of reasons why they shouldn't.
Gone were the big signs detailing everything they weren't allowed to bring (umbrellas, beachballs, water, smiles etc), replaced by offerings to make their visit as enjoyable as possible.
CA even asked for feedback, urging patrons to share their experiences. I took them up on the invitation, emailing my surprise at the welcome change of tack.
I didn't get a reply. Still, one step at a time.
The reward for this new approach was a memorable evening, from the spectacular sunset and that fat bloke's superb bellyflop over the perimeter fence to the multitude of records set.
Steve Smith established himself as the first player to score a century on debut as both Test and ODI captain, Bell took over as England's all-time leading ODI run-scorer and James Anderson became his country's most-capped player in all formats.
And despite banning George Bailey from leading his side on his home ground, the powers-that-be even managed to contrive that the first Pommie wicket should be bowled by one Tasmanian (James Faulkner) and caught by another (12th man Xavier Doherty).
Cricket Tasmania's newly-opened Ricky Ponting Stand looked magnificent. Now all they've got to do is fill it.
The match attendance of 10,784 was 4000 less than the Hobart Hurricanes' largest home crowd this season, a whopping 7000 less than Ponting's testimonial match in Launceston a year ago and about half Bellerive's new capacity.
The Big Bash League may have its critics but it's the only form of domestic cricket that anybody is attending.
The Sheffield Shield has been devoid of spectators since Don Bradman was gracing it while CA's ritual massacre of the one-day competition has seen it follow a similarly barren pathway.
Two years after Tasmanian taxpayers forked out $15 million to help secure cricket World Cup matches, they must decide whether they wanted them after all.
Bellerive's three-match involvement will see Zimbabwe play Ireland on March 7, Sri Lanka take on Scotland four days later before Australia's Saturday clash with the Scots on March 14.
It is being promoted with the slogan "Catch The Fever".
Recent international attendances at the venue suggest fans fear that fever might be ebola.
