With all the recent upheaval regarding cricket broadcast rights, there has been little news regarding how fans will watch Australia’s upcoming tour of England.
This Friday night will see the Australian Men’s cricket team take on traditional rivals England in the first match of a ‘white-ball’ tour of the UK.
The matches will be the first international tour undertaken by any Australian national sporting team since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
A long-term broadcast deal between Fox Sports and the English Cricket Board (ECB) expired last year. The two parties had been in negotiations to secure a new contract when the arrival of COVID-19 disrupted the global sporting calendar.
Now with so much uncertainty regarding global sports fixtures due to the pandemic, Fox Sports is currently opting to secure cricket rights on a ‘tour-by-tour’ basis.
TV Blackbox understands a broadcast deal for Australia’s tour of England is expected to be signed between Fox Sports and the ECB as early as Sunday, ensuring Australian fans will not miss out on a ball being bowled.
Australia’s tour of England will see it play three Twenty20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals. The matches will be played at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton and Old Trafford in Manchester. Both venues have hotels on-site to ensure players remain in COVID safe environment.
Australian Men’s Tour of England matches:
Friday, Sept 4: 1st T20 International, The Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Sunday, Sept 6: 2nd T20 International, The Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Tuesday, Sept 8: 3rd T20 International, The Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Friday, Sept 11: 1st ODI, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Sunday, Sept 13: 2nd ODI, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Wednesday, Sept 16: 3rd ODI, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
Broadcast times yet to be confirmed.
