Australian stars can’t watch World Cup because of broadcast deal

Australia’s cricketers have had to go to extreme lengths to watch the World Cup tournament in which they’re competing.

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - MAY 30: Head coach of Australia, Justin Langer talks to the media during the Australia Nets Session at Bristol County Court on May 30, 2019 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

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Australian players and coaches are being forced to watch the World Cup on iPads and laptops because games are not broadcast on free-to-air TV in England.

The team’s hotel in Bristol, where they currently are, does not have Sky Sports in its rooms.

The host nation’s broadcast deal has also left fans across the country detached from its own tournament.

While Australian fans on the other side of the world can sit at home and watch tonight’s World Cup opener against Afghanistan on Fox Sports or Gem, England fans were denied easy viewing of their team’s tournament-opening win in their own backyard against South Africa on Thursday.

The Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel, where the Australian cricket team is staying, does not show Sky Sports in its rooms. Picture: MEGA

Australian coach Justin Langer took in the England-South Africa game on a golf buggy while playing 18 holes.

“I’m a cricket tragic, and this is like my fairy land, I can sit and watch cricket every single day and tell people I am working. This is magic,” he said.

“We’ll be watching plenty of cricket. That’s the brilliant thing about the World Cup, when you love cricket and it’s on all the time, what could be better.”

Australian head coach Justin Langer has been giving the iPad a work out. Picture: Getty

Cricket Australia has sorted vouchers and logins for Langer and his players to bypass the unfriendly TV deal.

The lack of local coverage highlights why the England Cricket Board has created a radical new format “The Hundred” (100 balls), with all 18 fixtures set to be shown on free-to-air.

International cricket in England largely shifted to Sky Sports in 2005, with only the Indian Premier League (2011-14) shown in everyone’s living rooms.