Fans' guide to 2015 Ashes tickets

Believe it or not, it is just 170 days until the start of the first Test of the 2015 Ashes. The start of Australia's defence of the urn won so comprehensively in the 2013-14 summer, and the start of a campaign for a first victory on English soil in fourteen years.

A spot on the tour to the storied grounds of the UK is one of the most prized tickets for Australian cricketers. This year's series includes the two famous London venues of Lord's, home for this year's second Test, and The Oval, venue for the fifth Test.

The Test matches start in Cardiff, as they did in 2009 when England's 10th wicket held on for a draw. The tour also takes in Edgbaston for the third Test, where Australia and England played out perhaps the greatest Test match ever in that 2005 epic, while Nottingham's Trent Bridge is again on the rotation.

A hot ticket for the players, the Ashes tour is also a hot ticket for fans. Below is the current status on tickets from the Test venues. Many grounds and days are sold out, or ticket sales are run via a ballot system which requires luck as much as careful planning.

The high demand from travelling Australian supporters as well as locals in the UK can lead to tickets being sold above face value.

Unauthorised ticket sales is a known problem in the UK, with the England and Wales Cricket Board running a 'Touts Out' campaign and taking a very strong stance on the practice known as 'scalping'. 

Ticket touts re-sell tickets at inflated prices on websites, which is a practice fraught with danger of being scammed. Individuals are also often to be found on the routes to UK venues, distinguished by their surreptitious nature and repeated mutters of "buying, selling", looking to cash in on genuine cricket fans desperate to see their heroes play.

The easiest and safest way to avoid this problem and secure genuine, guaranteed tickets is through the Cricket Australia Travel Office.

CATO have single match packages for all Tests except Lord's, and they also run highly regarded escorted tours that cover all Tests, including Lords. 

There are other licensed tour operator options for the 2015 Ashes, including Premium Sports Tours, Australian Sports Tours, Events Worldwide Travel and National Network Travel.

Whatever option, with the series fast approaching, fans are advised to secure their place on what is sure to be a memorable tour soon.

First Test – Sophia Gardens (Cardiff) 8-12 July 2015
Official Ticket Source – Glamorgan County Cricket Club - https://tickets.glamorgancricket.com/Online/#

Day 1 – Sold out
Day 2 – Single seats only
Day 3 – Very limited available
Day 4 – Single seats only
Day 5 – Available

Second Test – Lords (London) 16-20 July 2015
Official Ticket Source – Lords - http://www.lords.org/fixtures/fixtures-and-tickets/england-v-australia-2015-ashes-test/

All days are drawn from a ballot that has now closed. The ballot will be drawn on 26 January 2015 and any tickets remaining go on sale on that date.

Third Test – Birmingham (Edgbaston) 29 July-2 August 2015
Official Ticket Source – Edgbaston - https://www.eticketing.co.uk/edgbaston/default.aspx

Day 1 – Available
Days 2-4 – Sold out
Day 5 – Available

Fourth Test – Nottingham (Trent Bridge) 6-10 August 2015
Official Ticket Source – Trent Bridge - https://www.eticketing.co.uk/nottsccc/default.aspx 

Days 1-4 – Sold out
Day 5 – Available

Fifth Test – Oval (London) 20-24 August 2015
Official Ticket Source – Surrey, The Oval - https://www.eticketing.co.uk/surreytickets/default.aspx

All days are drawn from a ballot that has now closed.
Day 4 – Very limited available
Day 5 – Very limited available

Travel Packages
Cricket Australia Travel Office has single match packages for all Test except Lords and tours that cover all Tests, including Lords, still available. Visit cricket.com.au/travel or call 1300 133 232.