The Tasmanian Cricket Association today announced venues and dates for Pura Cup, ING Cup and International matches to be played in Tasmania for the 2002-03 season.

The season commences interstate on October 27th, when the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers play the Queensland Bulls in Brisbane in the ING Cup.

The first opportunity to see them in action in Tasmania will come on November 22nd, when they take on the New South Wales Blues in the Pura Cup at Bellerive Oval.

A highlight of the season will no doubt be the first ever One-Day International played at Bellerive Oval between Australia and England on January 11th, 2003.

This event will coincide with the re-opening of the newly developed Bellerive Oval, making it the event of the summer.

Pre-sales are at an all time high.

TCA Chief Executive, David Johnston said, "The TCA urges patrons to book through Ticketmaster7 agencies to avoid disappointment, should the game become Tasmanian Cricket's first ever sell out crowd."

He added, "The new Southern Stand is filling up extremely quickly and availability of seating in this feature stand is at a premium."

The Cascade Tasmanian Tigers will again take two of it's ING Cup matches to the north of the State: January 5th v New South Wales in Devonport and January 26th v South Australia in Launceston.

All Pura Cup matches will be played at Bellerive along with the Australia "A" v England Tour match on November 15-17.

The tour match will be the first opportunity for patrons and corporates' to "Test Drive" the new World Class facilities at Bellerive and to see what the English have got, in their lead up to the Test Series for the Ashes and the VB Series.

The Tour match will be televised by the Nine Network and shown on mainland Australia, with highlights going back to England which will showcase Tasmania and Bellerive to millions of people

© 2002 Tasmanian Cricket Association

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.