50,000 English fans are on their way to the Ashes after securing tickets as furious Australian fans miss out

50,000 English cricket fans secured precious Ashes tickets when they went online this week, while some Aussie fans missed out. Here’s how it happened.

Barmy Army, day 2 of the Ashes, The Gabba. Picture: Liam Kidston.

England have emerged from the great summer ticket scramble with an Ashes army of more than 50,000 but officials are adamant they didn’t go “Barmy’’and do the Old Enemy major favours.

An astonishing 340,000 tickets were sold this week in Ashes pre-sales for the five Tests and complaints are still coming from furious Australian-based fans unable to secure seats for the hugely anticipated series.

More than 50,000 English-based fans have hit the jackpot with online Ashes Test tickets from this week’s pre-sale scramble and with special CA approved travel packages and Australian based English fans adding to the numbers, the tourists are poised for a rowdy presence in all five Tests with their Barmy Army sure to be in full voice.

Members of Australian based England supporter group, the Adelaide Barmies outside the Adelaide Oval in 2022. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

It appears likely there will be slightly more English fans next summer than Indian fans last summer due to a bigger uptake from touring packages but CA believes the prime reason for the ticket squeeze is simply the across-the-board demand

“We have seen unprecedented demand for tickets, demonstrated in the amazing statistic that Tuesday was the biggest day of sales in Ticketek’s 45 year history,’’ Joel Morrison, Events General Manager at Cricket Australia, told this masthead.

“It is clear this summer is one of the most anticipated in Australian cricket history, which has been reflected in record early sales across the country and huge interest from overseas.

“Fans will have another opportunity to secure tickets when general public tickets go on sale on Friday June 13 at 11am.”

The amount of public ticket available for the Ashes was roughly similar to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India last season with, for instance, 80% of the Gabba available to the public and 66% of the MCG which has a higher percentage of members.

England’s Barmy Army will be in full voice during the Ashes as they were at the Gabba in 2002. Picture: Anthony Weate

Cricket Australia said there has been more demand for tickets from overseas (particularly the UK) than for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Of the general admission tickets approximately 15% have been allocated to Cricket Australia partners which include the travel program.

CA said the vast majority of tickets have been sold locally in Australia and members areas in Australia will increase the number of Australian fans.

Current Gabba and SCG public ticket allocations for days 1-3 and the MCG for day one of the Boxing Day Test have been exhausted but CA will put further tickets on sale for the public for these days though specific numbers are unavailable.

There are still tickets available for day four of the Tests in Sydney and Brisbane.

Originally published as 50,000 English fans are on their way to the Ashes after securing tickets as furious Australian fans miss out