It may only be December 1, but already, Essex cricket supporters are warming to the prospect of next summer's cricket with the county club warning that the Vodafone Challenge Match against Australia is set to be a corporate sell-out.

Although bookings have only been available for a little over two weeks, all hospitality facilities at Chelmsford are completely booked for the first day of the three-day game which commences on Friday, June 29.

Only limited availability remains for the next two days -- and the match is still six months away!

The trend is similar for the floodlight match at Colchester on Tuesday, August 28 with local companies scrambling for the last few hospitality places.

Essex CCC Chief Executive David East stated, "The Australians are a massive crowd puller, and floodlit cricket is a fantastic spectacle.

''Inevitably, some people will be disappointed and unable to get in to see the games."

Supporters should note that tickets for both the tourist match against Australia and the NCL League floodlight matches against Middlesex will be on sale in the New Year.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.