The Ashes; First Test, Cardiff, July 8-12

[Arthur Crabtree]

I thought he went during the 3-1 win, but must be mistaken.

[shankycricket]

I thought he went during the 3-1 win, but must be mistaken.

It was Jimmy who went during that tour I think. Between the Adelaide and Perth Tests. Understandably looked jaded during the Perth test.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Thanks Shanky.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I know hardly anyone cares about this stuff anymore, but this series would be hugely boosted by being on fta. The spark doesn't really catch fire being broadcast on the Sky channels. It would even more be a reason for celebration, given that it's been behind a paywall for ten years.

[Making_Splinters]

If Free to Air TV could provide the same quality as Sky, then you may have a point. It's oft forgot that the coverage offered on Free to Air over the years was a very long way below what is expected as a viewing experiance these days. I don't think non Pay per View channels are even interested in cricket anymore given its propensity to requiring large volumes of time to be filled due to rain and breaks.

Personally, I'd like to see the ODIs / T20is on Free to Air, leave the Tests to the broadcaster that can provide the best service.

[Aidan11]

I must admit I hated it when the BBC broke away from the cricket to share with horse racing/golf/tennis/tiddlywinks.


You never miss a ball with Sky.

[Gingerfinch]

I must admit I hated it when the BBC broke away from the cricket to share with horse racing/golf/tennis/tiddlywinks.


You never miss a ball with Sky.

Then you'd come back, and we would have lost three wickets.

[yorker_129-7]

The problem as I understand it is no FTA TV company wants it. Test match cricket takes up an extraordinary amount of time. The BBC do Wimbledon which takes a similar length of time, but that's two weeks a year, not 7 weeks.

The major, major problem for me is the lack of highlights. That's not the fault of the FTA broadcasters but the ridiculous "package" the ECB put to them with a 24 hour delay and nothing to be broadcast while Sky were still live (basically not before 8pm). In the age of the internet who wants to watch something that happened nearly 36 hours earlier?

[Arthur Crabtree]

I must admit I hated it when the BBC broke away from the cricket to share with horse racing/golf/tennis/tiddlywinks.


You never miss a ball with Sky.

Different times. If Sky had presented cricket in the 1980s, with one channel for all their output, then it would have been the same.

[Arthur Crabtree]

And, even under 1980s rules, surely better that everyone has access to 80% of the coverage than only a few should have access to all of it.

[The Waugh Twins]

I must admit I hated it when the BBC broke away from the cricket to share with horse racing/golf/tennis/tiddlywinks.


You never miss a ball with Sky.

Different times. If Sky had presented cricket in the 1980s, with one channel for all their output, then it would have been the same.

You just made me feel how old I feel.

Oh do they still do the test pattern? That use to freak me out as a kid when that round weird, multi colored, conglomerate of shapes suddenly appeared for absolutely no apparent reason and that noise associated with it. What was that noise?

[The Waugh Twins]

Yep I think that noise Mark is talking about was like, "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"

I think Spielberg might have used it in Poltergeist.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Much missed.

[The Waugh Twins]

Yes I remember only having 2 stations growing up in Darwin. If England were touring, then ABC had nothing but the cricket. We had only been immigrants in Australia a few years so no patriotism to either side. Actually it bored me to tears watching it, so we just went outside and played the bloody game.

[The Waugh Twins]

It must have been the 74/75 Ashes tour as that was when we were in Darwin.