The Seven Network has unveiled an outline of its cricket coverage plans and named more commentators for the summer ahead.
For the first time ever, a sole free-to-air broadcaster will broadcast both Test and Big Bash League (BBL) cricket in Australia.
For the next six years, Seven will broadcast 43 BBL matches, including all marquee matches and finals; all home international tests, including the 2021-22 home Ashes series, and the iconic Boxing Day and New Year’s Test matches.
Seven will also broadcast key Women’s Big Bash League and international matches, along with the Allan Border Medal and Belinda Clark Award ceremonies.
Mel McLaughlin and James Brayshaw will form a dual-hosted team for the first time ever in Australian cricket broadcasting in Test cricket.
Three key ball-by-ball callers will call the Test action for Seven, including international sports broadcaster and commentator Alison Mitchell (pictured above), veteran broadcaster Tim Lane and Brayshaw.
This follows the announcement recently that Australia’s highest ever run-scorer, Ricky Ponting, will call Test matches and BBL on Seven, along with Damien Fleming and Michael Slater, while Glenn McGrath will provide expert commentary for Test matches.
Bruce McAvaney will also be part of Seven’s cricket coverage this summer, responsible for interviewing some of the sport’s most iconic figures during the lunch break at the Melbourne and Sydney Test matches.
Greg Blewett, Simon Katich, Jason Gillespie, Brad Hodge, Lisa Sthalekar and Abbey Gelmi make up the rest of Seven’s commentary team to date, with more members to be revealed closer to summer.
Dave Barham, head do cricket at Seven, said: “We are looking forward to the summer of cricket enormously. Throughout the coverage, we will be showcasing the players, bringing out their character and personality with more than 30 player features and vignettes.
“Heartland cricket will also be championed as Seven highlights stories at community level and local cricket. And we’ll do all of this while respecting the history of cricket, now that we are custodians of the sport.”
