Cricket fans hit for six as BBC loses rights to England tours
CRICKET fans yesterday hit out at the “national disgrace” that BBC radio has lost the rights to cover England’s tours of Sri Lanka and the West Indies at the end of the domestic season.
For the first time since 2005, Test Match Special will not cover an England tour, instead TalkSport will provide coverage.
TMS’s Jonathan Agnew, commentator and ex-England bowler, wrote on Twitter: “I know our loyal listeners will be very disappointed.”
Fans complained on social media about the absence of the popular show, which also features stars like exEngland captain Michael Vaughan.
One upset listener wrote: “This is literally the worst thing I have ever read on Twitter.”
While another branded the decision “a national disgrace”.
However, one cricket fan wrote: “Give TS [TalkSport] a chance before passing judgment.”
Scott Taunton, of TalkSport owner Wireless Group, said winning the rights was “a great victory” for the station.
“I’m delighted that we will be with England fans for every ball of the day throughout these winter tours,” he added.
In his post, Agnew stressed the decision was made by the Sri Lankan and West Indies cricket boards and not the England and Wales Cricket Board. The BBC said : “We put forward a competitive bid for these tours, but it was unsuccessful on this occasion.
“We’re disappointed because we know how much cricket fans value our coverage.
“We are still the home of cricket on the radio, as we demonstrated during the Ashes last winter. This summer, all England’s matches will be live on Test Match Special, and we have a deal for all England’s home internationals to 2024 as well as rights to the next three Ashes series.”