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Attendances at Shell Cup one-day cricket were disappointing this season, but does its first-class elder brother, the four-day Shell Trophy, even qualify to be called a spectator sport?

Not at Jade Stadium over the last two days. The chap charging $5 at the turnstiles would not have collected enough to pay his own wages.

When play resumed yesterday in the season's opening trophy match, between Canterbury and Central Districts, there were four paying spectators - one in No. 1 stand, two in No. 3, and one in No. 4. A few more drifted in later.

Corporate interest was nil, the majestic Hadlee Stand empty. Nevertheless, a couple of security guards were on duty to dissuade potential pitch invaders.

Of course, there was a sprinkling of players and match officials. But they had passes, as did the ground staff, two St John Ambulance officers, two sightscreen attendants, two scorers, one journalist, one radio commentator, seven catering staff, and, presumably, the three workers erecting scaffolding on the embankment.

The scoreboard operator had slept in, necessitating two Jade Stadium Limited officials to fill in until he could be summoned from his bed to his keyboard.

``Even the seagulls are not here today,'' mused scorer Terry Baines. The aerial scavengers knew pickings would be too slim to make the flight worth while.

That the match had historical significance as the first to be played on a portable pitch appeared lost on Christchurch's population, save for a few administrators who popped along for a look on the first day.

Canterbury's other trophy matches this season, against Auckland (February 27 to March 2) and Otago (March 5-8), will be played at Dudley Park, Rangiora, the latter transferred off Timaru's below-standard Aorangi Stadium pitch.

If Canterbury hosts the trophy final, from March 19 to 23, it will be at Hagley Oval.