PhoCusWright Connect
As many as 20,000 English supporters are celebrating in Sydney following their side’s emphatic victory over Australia in the Ashes.
England claimed the fifth and final test by an innings and 83 runs to finish the series 3-1, taking their first win down under in 24 years.
Captain Andrew Strauss was quick to praise his team as travelling supporters cheered.
“We came over here desperately wanting to win the series,” said Strauss, who captained England when the side regained the Ashes at home in 2009.
“Obviously in Melbourne we retained the Ashes but we really wanted to finish with a bang here in Sydney.”
Australian Rain
Sport tourism fans were made to wait for the expected victory, however, as rain delayed proceedings.
Australia began the day on 213/7, still 151 runs behind England, with bookmakers offering odds of 1,000-1 for a home victory.
Peter Siddle and Steve Smith battled valiantly before Siddle fell for 43 to spinner Graham Swann.
After a 40 minute break for rain, James Anderson removed Ben Hilfenhaus, before Chris Tremlett bowled Michael Beer to leave Australia on 281 all out.
As celebrations began in earnest, Strauss promised the players would enjoy it just as much as the supporters.
“We are delighted with what we have done and we are certainly going to enjoy this evening, that is for sure,” added the captain.
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Alasdair Cook
Most eyes were, however, on Ashes hero Alasdair Cook, who top scored with 766 across all five matches.
The man of the series, who scored 189 in Sydney, said: “It has been an amazing series for me, I couldn’t imagine this seven weeks ago,” he said.
World Sport Destination Expo
The developments come at an exciting time for sports tourism, with World Sport Destination Expo scheduled to take place in Bangkok later this year.
WSDE Research has revealed the travel industry’s fastest growing sector will post record profits and contribute an astonishing 14 per cent of overall travel and tourism receipts by the end of the year.
At a time when some traditional tourism trends are in decline, sport tourism continues to flourish and is set to grow exponentially in the next decade.
World Sport Destination Expo is the only global exhibition and business forum dedicated to showcasing this booming $600 billion market sector.
WSDE presents a much needed annual opportunity for the Sport Tourism industry to come together, not only to conduct lucrative future business deals and source new contacts and markets, but also to gain invaluable insights from the advanced knowledge of market leaders.
WSDE is a vital event for those wishing to be part of the growth of the industry’s future.
Now in its 2nd year, WSDE 2011 will take place in Bangkok, Thailand - Asia’s Sport Tourism Gateway - from September 27th–30th 2011.