Call To Return Test Match Cricket To Free-To-Air Television

7.38.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Jul 2009

Richard Burt today called for Test Match cricket to return to free-to-air television after the excitement of last week's first Ashes Test, which saw last wicket pair James Anderson and Monty Panesar surviving a nail-biting last 40 minutes to secure a draw for England.

"I am keeping my fingers crossed for a thrilling and successful Ashes series. But the only way to see it live is by paying a subscription to Sky, and I think it is time it was back on free-to-air television, like other national sporting events," said Richard.

The England and Wales Cricket Board opted to re-award the rights to Sky when they were up for renewal last summer, allowing the Satellite broadcaster to continue showing live cricket until 2013. This is the first time the Ashes has not been shown on free-to-air TV since television coverage of the sport began.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport are nearing the end of a consultation reviewing the "protected" list of sporting event, those assured of live free-to-air coverage, and Mr Burt will write to the minister calling for a to return to the "A" list, and to terrestrial TV screens.

Commenting, Richard said: "The Ashes is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar, yet millions are left unable to watch England's battle to regain the urn without paying a fee.

"Cricket is the only major sport to have no live coverage on free-to-air television. There would be an outcry if the FA Cup Final or The Open Golf tournament weren't shown on terrestrial TV, and rightly so.

"And only last week we saw an absorbing final at Wimbledon between two of tennis' current greats. The Ashes is on a par with all of these events, yet Cricket no longer features on the protected list of sporting events.

"The government must ensure that at least some live cricket - including the Ashes and the World Cup - are put back on the A List of events and made available to free-to-air broadcasters where the entire population can enjoy it."