The exception to this is at T20 matches which can attract crowds into the hundreds and occasionally the low thousands.
While modern day cricketers have few breaks outside the international calendar, when they do NSW players often return to play in the first-grade competition.
Finally in 2002 Blacktown were promoted from the second-tier shires competition to bring the number of clubs back up to 20.
In recent times some clubs have started broadcasting scorecards in real-time on the Cricket Australia website.
Most but not all clubs actively update their website and have information across a variety of social media platforms.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss amongst others played seasons in Sydney.
Such is the strength of the competition that some well-known players have been known to play multiple matches in second grade.
To address shortcomings in players making the transition from first-grade to State cricket, two seasons ago[when?]
The most successful club no longer in the competition is Paddington which won 9 first grade titles between 1894/95 and 1953/54 before being forced to merge with Glebe-South Sydney to form the Sydney District CC in 1965 - this merged club later left the competition in 1985.
Other ex-clubs include: The competition consists of 20 clubs who field one side in each of the five grades.
The additional 4 rounds that are played by the 1st Grade sides are generally one day matches that take place on Sundays (won by Sydney University in 2010/2011).
The Poidevin-Gray Shield, or PG's as it is more commonly known, comprises teams who represent their grade sides in an Under 21 competition.