England fans fear they may be left at the mercy of touts if Cricket Australia press ahead with plans to restrict ticket availability for next winter's Ashes series.

England's unexpected 2-1 series success last summer has prompted unprecedented interest in next winter's five-Test series.

Ticket details were due to be revealed yesterday, but Cricket Australia postponed their announcement amid rumours they are planning to restrict the number of tickets available to England fans at each venue to boost the chances of enjoying partisan home support.

Paul Burnham, spokesman for England's Barmy Army supporters, is sympathetic towards Cricket Australia's aims but believes it will result in a black market springing up to exploit those travelling fans not on organised tours.

''The only time we've been faced with this before was in Barbados a few years ago, and it ended up with everybody getting into the ground because the tickets were sold on to the English fans,'' said Burnham.

''You have to bear in mind if they open it up for every Australian to buy tickets a lot of them will buy them and then sell them on at an extortionate level to English fans who will buy them after travelling to the other side of the world.

''We're hoping Cricket Australia give the independent supporters and the Barmy Army an allotment of tickets, and we can assist in making sure ticket touts do not exploit the situation.''

An estimated 40,000 England fans are expected to travel to Australia next winter in the hope of seeing Michael Vaughan's side retain the Ashes.

Unlike two years ago in West Indies - when they were forced to pay a tourist levy but still dominated nearly every ground - Australian officials are determined to ensure each venue has predominantly home support.

''We're conversing with them and trying to make the point that we've been the back-bone of the last three Ashes tours, and lots of our guys are very keen to go back again,'' said Burnham.

''I fully appreciate what they're trying to do, which is to get the Aussies into the ground.

''But the net result of that is that the only English able to go are those who are paying an awful lot of money for organised tours, including a levy on the tickets.

''They could end up sitting next to an Australian, having paid four or five more times for the ticket, which would effectively be an English tax.

''It seems a great shame that the best supporters in the world, who follow their team win or lose, are getting picked on. The grass-roots fans are going to suffer.''

England's players have always acknowledged the huge lift they get from the large travelling support on away tours.

But the England and Wales Cricket Board are refusing to comment until Cricket Australia make an official announcement.

Burnham added: ''The reason we've always gone to Australia is that we're mixing with grass-roots Australian fans - and we've had a great time on and off the pitch.

''We've had no examples of the Barmy Army having any problems over three tours when we've lost every game - more or less.

''We've had the Aussies in our faces, and everything's gone off really well mixing in the bars.

''It will be a real shame if we're not allowed to do that - and they're also going to miss out, because the grass-roots fans spend the money on the service industry when they're over there. The organised-tour people don't do that.''