[Ian J]

I received my annual application form for Trent Bridge tickets a few months ago and didn't bother applying for tickets until yesterday.

The options were a day night One day International against Pakistan on Friday 8th September which I didn't bother with as the weather is more likely to be iffy or a Test match against Sri Lanka in June.

I applied for tickets for the first day to be told that the first three days are already sold out but I could have tickets for the fourth day (Monday this year) which included free tickets for the Tuesday if play went into the fifth day.

It's unheard of for the first three days at non London grounds to be sold out by January unless the visitors are Australia and I can only assume that this is down to cricket's new found popularity.

[JohnG]

I also believe they are limiting the number of tickets available to England supporters for the Ashes series in Australia ?

[Ian J]

That's bloody stupid as in the past there have been more Barmy Army at the Australian grounds than Aussies. There have been a number of daft reasons trotted out for this and the daftest one of the lot is that it's to stop the Barmy Army verbally abusing the delicate little Australian players. Anyone who has seen Australian cricket spectators in action will know that they lead the world in verbal abuse of opposing teams. Ask Muralitheran who refused to tour there last time Sri Lanka played there.

The vast majority of the tickets will be supplied to people with Australian addresses only which means that anyone determined enough will be able to get tickets. My sister lives in Sydney so I'm OK

[Lex]

The annoying thing is when you watch Australian cricket their grounds are never full. Admittedly they are big grounds, but still most of the matches against SA last month were half empty...

As for the verbal abuse - they have got to be kidding! At least the barmy army abuse with a sense of irony and humour - the australians just seem content to chant "you are a ******!" (self-abuser )