DUBLIN, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- 888.com, in conjunction with TV production company Winmedia, todayannounces details of the Poker Ashes 2009 which will see four lucky onlinepoker players win their way onto either the England or Australian teams tocompete in this innovative televised poker tournament to be broadcast on SKYSPORTS 2 from July 15 to 19.

The Poker Ashes 2009 will see England, led by former Yorkshire captainDarren Gough, and Australia, captained by legendary bowler Shane Warne, dobattle to see which nation holds the aces off the crease.

Qualification for places on each of the teams is now underway at 888.comand players can sign up at http://promo.888.com/pokerashes/?sr=XXXXXX usingsign up code ASHES100.

Players from Australia can start qualification for the Poker Ashes onlinefinal being held on June 7 at 8 p.m. through daily free rolls from Monday toSaturday at 8 p.m. AEST or through the daily $5 US buy in Poker Ashes satellite at 8:45 p.m. AEST.

English players can begin qualification for online their online finalbeing held on June 7 at 8 p.m. through the weekly free roll each Thursday at8 p.m. or in the $1 US satellites being held from Saturday to Wednesday at 8p.m.

Each team consists of four international cricketers and two onlinequalifiers in a format that will see five 'test matches' to be filmed inLondon on June 22 and 23.

As part of the Poker Ashes 2009, sponsor 888.com will be donating $50,000US to the charity of choice of the winning team - the Shane Warne Foundation for Australia and the Professional Cricket Association for England.

Aussie captain Shane Warne said of the upcoming Poker Ashes, "Aussiesdon't like to be beaten by the Poms - whatever the sport. And I can tell youthat Darren Gough and his English Poker Ashes team will face a stern testfrom our boys! We are taking this very seriously - I'm getting the very bestpoker players from the Aussie changing rooms, and you Poms are set for anabsolute flogging!"

Players can get further details of this event at their local cricketclubs.

The event, produced by Ian Langstaff and Winmedia, will be broadcast onin the UK at 10 p.m. from July 15 to 19 on SKY SPORTS 2 in the UK as well asAustralia, India, South Africa, and New Zealand. The lucky online qualifierswill receive tournament entry, travel and accommodation expenses, $1,000 USspending money and a package of autographed cricket memorabilia.