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WOULD-BE spectators at next year's 42 World Cup matches will need to be quick off the mark if they are to get seats at the games they want to see. Tickets for the final at Lord's on June 20 will be reserved, initially at least, for those who apply for attendance at seven or more matches at a cost ranging from £160 to £465.

Prices range from as little as £14 for a group match in the early stages to £100 for the most expensive seats at the final. The World Cup organisers have arrived at a fair compromise between the need to make a handsome profit from an event which is unlikely to return to Britain for at least another 20 years and the desire, in the words of the tournament director, Terry Blake, to ``take the game to the people''.

Blake said: ``Tickets are attractively priced, particularly in the early stages of the tournament. We want as many people as possible to attend the matches and enjoy the carnival experience of the 1999 World Cup.'' As a taster yesterday at Worcester 1,000 coloured ballons were released, 365 of them containing a World Cup ticket.

Half a million tickets went on sale to the public yesterday following a period of priority bookings for members of county clubs. Application forms are available from first-class grounds, branches of NatWest Bank and the Irish, Scottish and Dutch Cricket Unions. They can also be ordered by phoning 0870 606 1999. There is a limit of four tickets per match.

Three teams go through to a second round of nine 'Super Six' matches from each of the two groups of six. Of the 30,000 final tickets, about 4,000 will be available to spectators from overseas through travel agents. MCC will take 8,500 and commercial interests 5,000.

The final 'package' involves choosing three of the first-round matches, two Super Six games, a semi-final and the final. It sounds complicated but the application form is a breeze by comparison with the Inland Revenue's tax return form.

Each of the 18 counties will stage at least one match in a five-week tournament which starts with England's match against the holders, Sri Lanka, at Lord's on May 14.