An economic impact study has revealed last summer's Ashes series boosted the Australian economy by $317million.
Ticket sales generated $30 million, while around 37,000 tourists spent more than $10,000 each over the summer.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the success of the Australian team had played an important part in the sport's growing popularity.
"People come from far and wide to watch this cricket team play the brand of cricket that they do," he said.
"No team has ever scored in Test cricket at the rate that this team does.
"They are genuine entertainers and that's one of the reasons why we've seen over the last two or three years crowds increasing year on year."
Federal Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said the Australian economy was the winner.
"Cricket is simply marvellous for jobs and tourism," she said.
"Our boys not only did a fabulous job in winning back the Ashes, but helped to create hundreds of new jobs and attract thousands of tourists to our shores."
Most days were sold out here well before the Ashes took place. For the first summer in a long time the MCG test was shwon live in Melbourne, something which hardly ever happens. The ground holds 100,000 and they only show it live when it's sold out.
I guess this means England will be welcome back anytime, what a bummer. :lol:
Ticket sales generated $30 million, while around 37,000 tourists spent more than $10,000 each over the summer.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the success of the Australian team had played an important part in the sport's growing popularity.
"People come from far and wide to watch this cricket team play the brand of cricket that they do," he said.
"No team has ever scored in Test cricket at the rate that this team does.
"They are genuine entertainers and that's one of the reasons why we've seen over the last two or three years crowds increasing year on year."
Federal Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said the Australian economy was the winner.
"Cricket is simply marvellous for jobs and tourism," she said.
"Our boys not only did a fabulous job in winning back the Ashes, but helped to create hundreds of new jobs and attract thousands of tourists to our shores."
Most days were sold out here well before the Ashes took place. For the first summer in a long time the MCG test was shwon live in Melbourne, something which hardly ever happens. The ground holds 100,000 and they only show it live when it's sold out.
I guess this means England will be welcome back anytime, what a bummer. :lol:
