Australia’s men will almost double the number of home cricket Tests they play against England and India in the next broadcast rights cycle – up from 13 to 20 - meeting demands from the television networks for more premium red ball matches.that Cricket Australia had outlined a vastly improved package of men’s Test matches to prospective international and domestic broadcasters in recent months, as it prepares to start talks over a new rights deal later this year.
The increase in home Tests is largely because the governing body has secured commitments from the boards of England and India to tour twice for full Test tours in the six seasons after the current deal expires – India in 2024-25 and 2028-29, and England in 2025-26 and 2029-30. Cricket’s global calendar of bilateral agreements, pulled together in the guise of the International Cricket Council’s Future Tours Program, will be announced later this month at the global body’s annual conference in Birmingham.Under the captaincy of Pat Cummins, the Australian men are the world’s top-ranked team, and are in prime position to contest the World Test Championship final in England next year.
Ten had offered more than $900 million to own all rights, only to be edged out at the last moment when CA squeezed an extra portion of cash from Foxtel and Seven to break the $1 billion mark.