Big-name cricketers said more tests should be played there, while traders said business was brisk.

And one hotel said the fans had drunk the bar dry and more beer had to be ferried in.

In the Channel Seven commentary box, former Australian batsman Greg Blewett and English spin bowler Phil Tufnell said as one that the venue was impressive and Test cricket should return.

"Excellent. A big tick," Blewett told The Canberra Times.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time in Canberra," Tufnell said.

Blewett said the team in the commentary box had been talking about Manuka as a "boutique ground" - small, intimate with a good atmosphere. They particularly liked the trees. "If there's a sixth Test of the summer, why not here?" he said.

At the Kingston Hotel on Canberra Avenue, a few hundred metres from the ground, business was double that of a normal Sunday, according to manager Sam Vogt.

He had to order in extra kegs of beer when the bigger tanks in the bar ran out. "They drank them all dry," he said.

Speaking for the industry in general, Anthony Brierley of the Australian Hotels Association in Canberra said it was too early to determine occupancy rates, but members experienced "a very busy weekend, with a significant uplift in trade and demand".

"The really pleasing aspect of the Test match is that the benefits were felt across the city, with licensed venues in Civic and Braddon reporting very busy Friday and Saturday night trading conditions," he said.

"This indicates that public transport, taxi and rideshare availability performed relatively seamlessly in getting locals and visitors out, about and home safely and easily."

Inside the ground, traders seemed pleased. Karl Kraefd of Joe's Ice Cream said the first three days of trading were excellent.

"I don't see anything wrong. The people are nice. It's pretty perfect," he said.

Outside the ground, there was the odd spasm of grouchiness because the roads were closed to traffic. One driver mounted the pavement to drive around a traffic-blocking barrier, refusing to turn around even for a security guard who told him what he had done was dangerous.

Another local resident said there had been a massive effort to tidy the area up, including putting casings over ugly temporary bollards. Locals said the blue and yellow coverings had become known as "bollard condoms".

The Kingston and Barton Residents Association said feedback from the locals was "mostly positive" and local traders had reported increased business over the weekend.

According to the association's president, Rebecca Scouller, parking was "by and large, orderly".

She said the ACT government might consider stepping up its campaign to encourage cricket lovers to use public transport.

"It's cheap (free), convenient and delivers fans to the Oval's gates," she said.

Parking arrangements were good, according to David Marshall, who chairs the Tourism Leaders' Forum in the ACT, which promotes Canberra as a tourist destination.

"The feedback from Cricket Australia is that they are delighted with the way Canberra has risen to host the event," he said.