Both events will be huge. An estimated 20,000 England fans will descend on Oz, many just to soak up the atmosphere. In the Caribbean, the Barmy Army will be joined by thousands of holidaymakers leaping off their sun loungers to cheer on their team.

Despite gloomy reports about availability in the papers, it’s not too late to be among them, but you’ll have to act soon to get a place in the crowd.

The Ashes, Nov 23-Jan 6

Finding tickets to see England play in Australia this winter is still surprisingly easy. Although the final Test match, in Sydney, sold out in two hours, the official website (www.cricket.com.au/default.aspx?s=buytickets) has tickets for the third and fourth days in Melbourne and day five in Adelaide, as well as all bar one of England’s one-day internationals.

Thousands of tickets are changing hands online, although buyers should beware: Cricket Australia says it has cancelled 1,300 tickets sold on eBay by known touts. A safer bet is to book a tour with match tickets. Trailfinders (0845 050 5955, www.trailfinders.com) has a week in Melbourne, then a week in Sydney, for £2,899, including Qantas flights, leaving on December 22, internal flights and tickets to each day of the fourth and fifth Tests.

Several specialists have escorted tours with celebrity dinners, cocktail parties and sightseeing. At the top end, ITC Sports (01244 355390, www.itcsports.co.uk) has a week in Sydney, for the final Test, staying on a luxury cruise ship moored in the harbour; £5,690, full-board. Gullivers Sports Travel (01684 293175, www.gulliversports.co.uk) has the first three Tests for £4,665, flying on November 20. The Cricket Tour Company (01494 713 007, www.crictours.com) has seven nights in Adelaide, for the second Test, for £1,945, flying on November 27.

Independent travellers will find flight availability, but no bargain fares. Trailfinders (0845 054 7777, www.trailfinders.com) has Qantas flights to Melbourne on December 22 for £1,319, and seven nights, room-only, at the four-star Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens for £318pp.

Alternatively, fly to a different city for an internal flight. Emirates flights to Sydney on December 30 cost £1,103 at www.australiatravelmarket.com, but flying with the same airline to Perth was £912. With a connection on Virgin Blue (£143), the Perth fare is cheaper, effectively giving you a free stopover.

Page 2: The World Cup

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World Cup, Mar 11-Apr 28

With 16 teams playing 51 matches in nine countries — all at the height of the Caribbean tourist season — the 2007 Cricket World Cup looks set to be a logistical challenge for fans and officials alike. The good news is that match tickets are available online (www.cricketworldcup.com) until November 30, priced £8-£55. Only a few games are sold out, including the final, in Barbados on April 28, and one semi-final, in St Lucia.

England play a warm-up game against Australia on March 9 in St Vincent (£6-£22), then their three group-stage games — against New Zealand, Kenya and Canada — in St Lucia. Tickets are available for all three matches (£14-£50).

The bad news is that St Lucia has just 4,500 hotel beds. To plug the gap, cruise ships will be used as floating hotels, and locals will offer homestays and B&B; book through Barefoot Holidays (00 1 758 450 0004, accommodations-stlucia@candw.lc;from £19 per night). New properties are being added all the time, so keep checking if you draw a blank.

Flights are selling fast. Last week, Virgin Atlantic (0870 574 7747, www.virgin-atlantic.com) had March 13 departures for £536. British Airways (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com) had March 14-28 departures for £661.

Many tour operators complain that airlines have snatched away their regular seat allocations during the tournament. Virgin Holidays (0870 220 2757, www.virginholidays.co.uk) is an exception. It has good availability on flights and hotels during March, with an all-inclusive week at the three-star Papillon by Rex for £1,119 (£1,659 for a fortnight).

Escorted sports tours are pricier. The Cricket Tour Company (01494 713007, www.crictours.com) has 14 nights at Windjammer Landing, from March 14, for £3,645, B&B, including tickets to England’s three group matches. Best at Travel (0870 708 2001, www.sportingjourneys.com) has 14 nights at a homestay in St Lucia for £1,999, departing on March 9 and including Virgin Atlantic flights, tickets and coach transfers to matches.

Assuming that England finish first or second in their group, which they should do despite recent poor results, they will play the next round — the Super Eight — in Antigua, Guyana and Grenada (if they top the group) or Barbados (if they come second). The easiest way to follow the team through this stage is on a cruise ship. Gullivers Sports Travel (01684 293175, www.gulliversports.co.uk) has a two-week Super Eight cruise, departing on April 7 and calling at Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Tobago and Barbados, for £4,750, full-board.

ITC Sports (01244 355390, www.itcsports.co.uk) has chartered the luxury 55-berth Seadream, and claims to have Flintoff among its hosts. Cruises start at £6,230. Or try Sport Abroad (01306 871039, www.sportabroad.co.uk) or The Sporting Traveller (01737 244398, www.thesportingtraveller.com). All you have to do now is hope Freddie’s boys can repeat last year’s heroics.

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