"It's all part of a growth strategy to see we have more and more people attending cricket matches."
Action was required after a lacklustre 2015/16 summer featuring the poorly-ranked New Zealand and West Indies teams, with a 16-year low Boxing Day attendance.
Numbers were also down across the board, with an average of 18,000 people attending each day of the first five Tests of the summer before the Sydney game was ruined by rain.
In comparison, the average crowd for the more affordable BBL was 29,443.
Sutherland said multicultural and sub-continental fans were in his crosshairs, with new "gathering areas" likely to entice people looking to make a day at the cricket a catch-up with friends or colleagues.
"We changed the offerings through various food outlets to make sure there was something for everyone ... we got a really pleasing response from that," he said.
"It's really important to deliver a compelling fan proposition."
Sutherland said the ticket costs came after studying other sports.
"We're really confident what we're announcing today competes very well," he said.
"Our desired state is full grounds."
The most expensive adult ticket at all venues except Hobart will cost at least $100 this summer but general admission tickets will be capped at $30 for adults, $10 for children and $65 for families at all Test and ODI matches.
Around a quarter of all tickets will be available at that rate.
Sutherland said the same ticket level would be capped at $20 for Big Bash League matches but stopped at guaranteeing the cuts would continue to next season's visit of Ashes rivals England.
- AAP
