England clash set to be a sellout

CRICKET: TICKETS FOR Ireland's One Day International against England at Stormont on August 27th will go on sale next Monday.

Cricket Ireland have kept prices at the same level as the historic first meeting between the sides in 2006, with adult tickets prices at £35 (€38.25).

Marking Ireland’s entry into the One Day International stage, that game attracted an 8,000 sell-out crowd to the Belfast venue, with England winning by 38 runs in a high-scoring contest.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom is confident of another full house and points to the fact the game comes hot on the heels of England’s Ashes campaign. “With England having finished its Ashes campaign just three days previously, this is arguably the biggest single sporting event to take place in Northern Ireland this year,” said Deutrom.

Tickets for the game will go on sale next Monday at 10am through ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.ie) or by telephone at the following numbers, Republic of Ireland 0818 76 2121, Northern Ireland 0844 277 9950).

Meanwhile, Cricket Ireland have reported a loss of of £160,765 (€175,820) in 2008. Commenting at their agm last Sunday, financial director Richard Johnson put the bulk of that figure down to the senior team’s success in the Intercontinental Cup, which they won for the third straight time last November. Ireland’s participation in the competition will continue but he called on the International Cricket Council to offer prize money in future tournaments.