General sale tickets are difficult to come by, but there are other options for cricket fans

Tickets for the hotly-anticipated Ashes series next summer have been in high demand. Indeed, the Trent Bridge website reports "unprecedented demand" for tickets to the first test, with "limited seats remaining across the whole Test".

But for fans desperate to watch the bitter England vs Australia rivalry unfold in person, there are still a couple of lesser-known ways to secure tickets. However, fans should note that, unsurprisingly, they do cost more than standard admission.

England will have revenge on their minds after a 4-1 thrashing in Australia last winter - a series that brought many critical comments of the performance from ex-pros.

Tickets for all five tests can be purchased via the premium ticket website, Seat Unique, that specialises in hospitality packages for live events like sport and music. They range in price quite considerably, with packages for the first test in Nottingham starting at £397.95, while more expensive tickets are as much as £1,363.

The hospitality packages will vary by venue, but as an example, the Green Room at Trent Bridge costs £1,299 per person. For that people get an official match ticket in the Radcliffe Road Lower Stand, access to the Green Room at the William Gunn, breakfast, a two course lunch and afternoon tea.

There is also a complimentary bar at the Green Room, a celebrity compere and an audience with cricket ambassadors and special guests, plus the opportunity to interact with them.

Dates and where to buy tickets

Seat Unique packages can be browsed for the tests below:

• Trent Bridge, Nottingham June 18 to 22 (from £397.95)
• Lords, London June 30 to July 4 (prices TBC)
• Edgbaston, Birmingham July 8 to July 12 (from £733.95)
• Utilita Bowl, Southampton July 21 to 25 (from £615)
• The Oval, London July 29 to August 2 (from £502)

Resale opportunities and limited general sale remaining

There are also tickets available via resale sites such as Viagogo. At present, a handful of tickets remain for day one of the first test at Trent Bridge, with the cheapest priced at £438 and the most expensive costing £668.

Tickets can also be found for the other tests, with prices varying significantly, and some costing upwards of £1,500.

Some tickets are also still available via the venues directly (with details on the ECB website), such as Lords, which has a ticket ballot open until October 26. To enter the ballot, simply select the days you wish to attend, the number of tickets you would like to apply for and the ticket type you require.

The venue says there is no limit to the number of days you can enter for and every applicant has an equal chance of being successful. There is also no advantage to entering early or late.

In terms of availability for other tests, the ECB says Trent Bridge has limited availability for day 5. Days 1 to 4 are sold out at Edgbaston and the Utilita Bowl, while general sale for the Kia Oval opens in December.