Terrestrial TV to lose live English cricket

The England and Wales Cricket Board today announced that Sky Sports have won the right to broadcast live all international cricket from 2006.

The England and Wales Cricket Board today announced that Sky Sports have won the right to broadcast live all international cricket from 2006.

The new four-year agreement means that England Tests will no longer be available to terrestrial television - the outcome which many in the game had feared.

However, Five will show highlights of all home matches - discounting day-nighters.

The ECB announced that Sky Sports will gain exclusive rights to the live broadcast of all home international and domestic cricket in England and Wales, while Five will show highlights of home international cricket on prime time television.

Action from every day's play, apart from day/night games, will be shown at the peak time evening slot of 7.15pm-8.00pm on Five.

BBC Radio retains exclusive radio commentary rights to all home international cricket as well as the non-exclusive rights to cover domestic county cricket.

The Wireless Group, owners of TalkSPORT, have been awarded the non-exclusive rights to provide live commentary of Twenty20 Cup matches.