Fox Sports pushing for instant player access as part of major cricket broadcast overhaul

IN a major detour to what cricket fans in Australia are used to, new broadcaster Fox Sports is planning to bring a version of F1 racing’s ‘live grid walk’ to its coverage while also pushing for instant interviews.

Jessica Yates, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Mark Howard, Andrew Symonds.

CRICKET’S new TV broadcasters will head to International Cricket Council headquarters in Dubai next month to negotiate unprecedented access to players during Tests and one-day internationals.

Fox Sports have added former Australian entertainer Andrew Symonds and respected ex-Ten BBL commentator Mark Howard to their stellar team to revolutionise cricket coverage this summer.

News Corp Australia revealed last week that Fox Cricket would crank up the stump microphones for all international cricket, but it’s not the only innovation the new regime is looking to get approved by the game’s powerbrokers.

Commentators Jessica Yates, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Mark Howard, Andrew Symonds.

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Fox is planning to bring a version of Formula 1 racing’s ‘live grid walk’ to its cricket coverage, and have a live camera and interviewer roaming in and among the players as they warm-up for a day’s play, in the nets and then out in the middle as they observe the wicket.

In a world of increasingly instant access, Fox are also pushing for instant interviews and hope they might be able to put questions to an Australian batsman as he walks from the field after scoring a hundred, rather than the traditional approach of having to wait until the end of the day.

When Steph Curry shoots a three-pointer in the NBA, cameras converge on him immediately in the huddle capturing the emotion, but in cricket, players are often hidden behind a mask.

Independent research has indicated the public don’t know the personality of Australian cricketers anymore and following sandpapergate, popularity is low.

Talks are ongoing with Cricket Australia and the players’ association, but the ICC also have strict guidelines around access in international cricket. There is a scheduled conference in Dubai with broadcasters in September where a wish list will be presented.

“It’s a tricky thing with Test cricket because it’s governed by the ICC … but in a perfect world when a bloke has done something exceptional on the field, the sooner you can talk to him the better,” Mark Howard said.

“Traditionally if Tim Paine makes a 100 at the end of the day you might hear from him. I want to see Tim Paine when he’s covered in sweat and he walks off knowing what he’s done for his team and the emotion of it.

Players like the Marsh brothers would be instantly available if the Fox proposals are agreed.

“The speed of access in Test cricket is an absolute key, because otherwise you see these guys in their helmets and that’s about all you see.

“We really want to invest in our cricket team and it’s easy to invest in people when they’re displaying emotion, which usually comes as soon as they’ve performed the act, so to speak. That’s the key.”

It’s understood Fox Sports won’t be angling for cameras in dressing rooms.

However, Howard believes viewers should be able to get up close and personal before matches.

“I’ve got a motorsport background … and the grid walk, where it’s live, I think that’s the next step,” he said.

“I don’t think you need to see us standing in front of a stayed background saying here we are. I think you can be walking around, ‘and here’s the guys in the nets, mate how do you hold your slower ball, OK, best of luck today, now let’s go out to the middle and have a look at the wicket.’”

Originally published as Fox Sports pushing for instant player access as part of major cricket broadcast overhaul