Sky Sports agrees new Test cricket deal

Sky Sports has today secured four more years of live international and county cricket under a new contract agreed with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The satellite broadcaster's new deal ensures exclusive coverage of first-class cricket will remain on Sky TV, mobile and online.

Replacing Sky's existing multi-million pound deal, which was due to expire in 2013, the new agreement runs from 2014 to 2017.

Sky Sports will exclusively broadcast coverage of all England Test matches played at home, including the next home Ashes against Australia in 2015, along with series against India (2014), Pakistan (2016) and South Africa (2017).

The broadcaster will also air all England's One-Day Internationals and T20 matches, plus selected fixtures featuring England Lions and the England women's team.

At least 60 county matches from domestic cricket will be broadcast on Sky Sports each summer, covering each of the major competitions in each county.

"This is good news for cricket and good news for viewers. Our viewers will enjoy a breadth of live coverage, at domestic and international level, and the ECB extends a partnership that has proved good for the game," said Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis.

"Cricket is flourishing in England and Wales, with increased participation, record attendances and success for England's men and women. Through extending our partnership, the ECB can invest on and off the pitch and the game can continue to grow."

ECB Chairman Giles Clarke added: "Sky Sports has raised the bar for all live television broadcasters with its innovative, informed and comprehensive coverage of cricket and we are very pleased to renew this agreement for a further four years.

"No-one should be in any doubt that our partnership with Sky has been of immense benefit to the wider game. World-class support structures for our successful England teams, major ground improvements at county level, a flourishing coach education programme and a 5% increase in participation at our 'Focus' clubs are all by-products of this relationship."

The deal will take Sky's partnership with the ECB for live cricket into its 12th consecutive year, and there is also an option for Sky to extend the deal for an additional two years to cover tours by India in 2018 and Australia in 2019.

Last week, it was announced that Test Match Special will remain on the BBC until 2019, after the corporation agreed a new radio rights deal with the ECB to home England Tests.

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