Australian Hotels Prepare for Boom in Bookings in Lead Up To Ashes - Metro Hotels

With an estimated 37,000 international visitors heading to Australia for the Ashes test series this time next year, tickets to the matches aren't the only things in high demand.

Australia is set to battle England on home soil for the Ashes, with the first Test starting at The Gabba in Brisbane on November 21, 2013 and the 5^th Test finishing in Sydney on January 7, 2014. The five Test series is expected to be a boom for local tourism operators. 

According to Metro Hotels' Chief Operating Officer, George Bedwani, the Group has already experienced a huge demand for hotel accommodation in all cities where the tests are being held.

"Metro Hotels' in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney started receiving bookings from both agents and individuals as early as the day after England regained the Ashes in the 2010/2011 series," he said.
"Bookings are already extremely strong, especially group bookings, despite the series not commencing for another 12 months."

The Ashes is one of the most famous sporting rivalries in the history of the sport, and certainly cricket's oldest and most fiercely fought competition.

After England's 3-1 win in the 2010-11 Ashes Series, the 2013-14 Tour is already setting itself up to be another historic showdown, with England looking to continue their winning streak and the Aussies fired up to win back the urn.

In addition to the test matches, there will also be five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches between Australia and England.

With 13 properties across Australia, Metro Hospitality Group is the country's oldest Australian owned hotel chain. The Group offers a range of 4-star hotels and apartments in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Gladstone, with the same affordable, quality, centrally located accommodation and friendly service common to all Metro properties Australia-wide.

*2013-14 Ashes series

• 1^st Test - Thursday 21 to 25 November 2013, The Gabba - Brisbane
• 2^nd Test - Thursday 5 to 9 December 2013, Adelaide Oval - Adelaide
• 3^rd Test - Friday 13 to 17 December 2013, WACA Ground - Perth
• 4^th Test - Thursday 26 to 30 December 2013, MCG - Melbourne
• 5^th Test - Friday 3 to 7 January 2014, SCG - Sydney

Guests are able to book at all Metro Hotels properties by calling the toll free Central Reservations line on 1800 004 321. Alternatively bookings can be made online at www.metrohotels.com.au.

QR Bulls Masters v Ipswich Invitational XI

Come and see Queensland and Australian greats play against our local heroes in the fast paced environment that is Twenty20 Cricket!

Players will include: Ian Healy, Greg Ritchie, Michael Kasprowicz, Andy Bichel & Jimmy Maher + more! Gates open at 10am, beginning with U10 matches. Free coaching clinic for kids 12.30 - 1.30pm. Main Game commences at 2pm. Tickets are available at the gate - Adults $10, Under 16's are free.

Date: 18 November

Venue: Baxter Oval - Ivor Marsden Memorial Sporting Complex, Old Toowoomba Road, Amberley QLD 4305

Contact:

ipscricket@optusnet.com.au or telephone (07) 3282 4251

Warne Leads Player Praise for Channel 9's "Howzat! Kerry Packer's War"

Spin legend Shane Warne led the player praise for Channel 9's hit mini-series "Howzat! Kerry Packer's War", thanking the late media mogul for changing cricket and the lives of those who made millions from it.

The stunning homage to Packer, played by Offspring actor Lachy Hulme, won a debut audience of 2.097 million nationally on Sunday night.

Delivering on Nine Entertainment boss David Gyngell's bold prediction the series would be "the biggest piece of television this year," the Southern Star production had been widely hailed as the best drama of 2012, news.com.au reports.

Hulme, whose performance already has him favourite for the best actor Logie award, largely stayed away from social media, which was flooded with five-star reviews of his physical transformation and colourful characterisation of the late media mogul.

The rush to praise Hulme and the casting of Australia's best actors as the cricket legends who revolutionised the game in the 1970s with World Series Cricket saw the show trend in top spot on social media around Australia and the world.

Read on at The Sydney News Net

Melbourne Stars chasing Bolt for Big Bash League

'M' for Melbourne? Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt (above) celebrates his third London Olympics gold medal with the signature move of British dual gold medallist Mo Farah (left). The Melbourne Stars is hoping Bolt will play for them during the Big Bash cricket series.



The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, could be steaming in from the Members End at the MCG this summer with an audacious plan hatched to have the Jamaican track superstar play in the Twenty20 Big Bash League.
The Melbourne Stars franchise has confirmed it is in negotiations with the six-time Olympic gold medallist and his management company and spin king Shane Warne, the team's marquee player, launched a campaign via social media on Sunday in an effort to build support for the recruiting coup. The move has the formative backing of Cricket Australia.

Bolt, who repeated his treble of gold medals in Beijing with victory in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m relay at the London Olympics, played junior cricket before ruling the track and has long voiced his love for the game. He famously clean bowled then West Indies captain and good friend Chris Gayle in a charity match in 2009, having earlier belted him down the ground for six, and the vision became popular on YouTube.

The 25-year-old was first approached about joining the Stars before the Games by the franchise's president Eddie McGuire, who was interviewing him in his capacity as a broadcaster at the London OIympics with Foxtel. Bolt said Warne had now spoken to him about playing in the BBL and he would consider whether to take up the offer.

ICC U19 CRICKET WORLD CUP

The world's best young cricketers will gather in Queensland from 11-26 August to test their skills during the 2012 ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup.

Free to attend and held over three locations - Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Townsville - the tournament will see sixteen teams from around the world compete including Australia; Afghanistan; Bangladesh; England; India; Ireland; Namibia;  Nepal; New Zealand; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Scotland; South Africa; Sri Lanka; West Indies; and Zimbabwe.

For a full tournament schedule visit 

www.icc-cricket.yahoo.net

ICC U19 CRICKET WORLD CUP

The world's best young cricketers will gather in Queensland from 11-26 August to test their skills during the 2012 ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup.

Free to attend and held over three locations - Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Townsville - the tournament will see sixteen teams from around the world compete including Australia; Afghanistan; Bangladesh; England; India; Ireland; Namibia;  Nepal; New Zealand; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Scotland; South Africa; Sri Lanka; West Indies; and Zimbabwe.

For a full tournament schedule visit 

www.icc-cricket.yahoo.net

CB series -Sri Lanka Vs India on 21st February - Gabba, Brisbane

Even though Sri Lanka is down in the points table, tomorrows win with bonus point against India will enhance the morale of the team further.

Sri Lanka only played 4 matches and maintaining plus Net RR. And from last match against Australia captain Mahela as well as Dilshan back to their normal form with Sangakkara. More importantly Faveez Maharoof proves his quality with fine bowling figures of 8 overs, one maiden, 18 runs and two wickets.

The fielding was exceptional and first time in Sri Lankan cricket history we got three all-rounders in the team who can bowl fast medium and medium fast (Maharoof,Angelow and Thisara).In match against Australia Kulasekara was well supported to Malinga with better Slow left-arm orthodox bowing of Rangana Herath. And up to now in the series Sri Lanka headed by largest victory in terms of wickets and runs (vs Australia).

In bowling Herath,Maharoof(plays only one match) as well as Kulasekera are in the top five slots under “Best Economy rates” category. Dinesh chandimal is in the fourth place among top runners (but he played only four matches as all others played five matches) .The captaincy of Mahela in this series also has been hailed by many cricket experts as well.

On the other hand India having all sought of problems as their inform Match wining captain MS Dhoni has been suspended for one ODI .He was the third most run getter in the series. Furthermore there was a question mark on fitness of Virender Sehwag and specially Sachin Tendulkar who went for a precautionary MRI scan after being hit on the helmet by a Brett Lee bouncer.

So there is a chance to Sri Lanka to win with extra point which would take the team into number two spot in points table. But more importantly it will further boost the morale of the team and cricket loving community in Sri Lanka. And also special gratitude should be given for the Sri Lankans who are living in Australia supporting our team with always playing “our songs” with specific local “Baila” with our identity. This uniqueness can be observed in any part of the world which Sri Lankan cricketers are playing and separate social research can be done on that as well.

CB series -Sri Lanka Vs India on 21st February - Gabba, Brisbane