More Ashes tickets released on Monday

Cricket Australia has learned the lessons of the awful initial release of Ashes tickets with a staggered sale from Monday of the more than 80,000 seats remaining for the international summer. Demand from thousands of Australian Cricket Family members who were forced to spend hours trying to get on to internet and phone ticket lines - often to find there were no Test vacancies or advertisements were already on ebay - has forced Cricket Australia to offer sales through ticket agency offices and reduced the number available to four per purchase.

Small allocations of about 2000 per day will be available to the general public for the first four days of all Tests. Cricket Australia held back sales on 80,000 seats and any not bought by the Australian Cricket Family this week will also be on offer. Tickets at the WACA, Bellerive Oval, Adelaide Oval and the SCG will go on sale on June 19, followed by the Gabba on June 20 and the MCG on June 21.

James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, hoped the customer-driven changes would address the problems caused during the rush for seats on June 1. "In staggering sales dates, reducing the national ticket cap and making tickets available at outlets, we believe we've put three very positive measures in place in ensuring as many Australians as possible have simpler and fairer access," Sutherland said.

The number of tickets to be made available will be announced on Friday but it is expected 400,000 seats will be on offer, mainly for the one-day tournament and the second to fourth days of the Boxing Day Test. "Demand is also expected to be very strong as this will be the first chance general public and overseas fans will have to buy tickets," Sutherland said. "However, with 41 days of cricket to choose from there still are ample opportunities to experience the biggest summer of cricket in Australian history." The first Test begins in Brisbane on November 23.