Cricket: Broadcasters’ payment due but unlikely to arrive

Seven and Fox Cricket come closer to contract conflict with Cricket Australia as a broadcast payment falls due.

Mitchell Marsh is bowled by Jofra Archer during the second ODI at Old Trafford. The Australian players are on the other side of the world while a storm brews at home

A landmark day has arrived in the cricket contract crisis with broadcasters due to deliver only part of their first payment for the summer amid an escalating dispute and continued uncertainty.

Fox Sports notified Cricket Australia on Friday that it too would be seeking what is called a “reset” of its contract, while Seven West Media has indicated it is ready to go further and walk away from cricket less than three years into a deal worth $1.2bn to the game.

Both Fox and Seven sent legal letters to the sporting body on Friday.

The broadcasters are understood to be willing to pay only part of the combined $60m due on Tuesday.

Cricket Australia has not been able to provide a schedule for the summer. A spokesman said yesterday dates and venues for matches had been agreed to by India, but CA was waiting on state government approvals.

It became clear only in recent weeks that plans to start the international summer in Perth would have to be abandoned because of the West Australian government’s strict border security controls and plans have been made for an early player camp in Adelaide.

The eight Australian players not involved in the IPL will fly to the South Australian capital at the end of the week.

There are expectations players will later form one biosecurity group for the limited overs internationals and another will be formed for an Australia A side, which will prepare for a red ball tour match against India. A third bubble for state players is also being planned while the BBL will be held as a travelling roadshow, holding a series of games in one state before moving to another.

The Australian players attending the IPL are not due back until early November and do not know what quarantine requirements they face, but those returning directly from the UK can train in small groups while living in a hotel attached to the Adelaide Oval.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has kept alive hopes the Boxing Day Test can be held in Melbourne, but could not say if crowds would be permitted.

“It is too early to determine whether they will have crowds,” Andrews said. “It is too early for us to determine how big any crowd might be.

“We have taken that offline and we are having detailed discussions with, whether it is the cricket authorities, the MCC, the AO (Australia Open) team, talking to them about what their event looks like.

“I don’t think it will be a normal Boxing Day Test … nor will the Australian Open be exactly the same as it normally is.

“Teams and players coming from overseas and coaches and officials will all have to quarantine. It won’t be an ordinary summer from that point of view.”

Watch every ball of Australia’s Tour of England Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

The AFL has already moved its grand final to Queensland and there is speculation the Boxing Day Test would move out of Victoria if crowds were not permitted. The MCC which runs the stadium is hopeful of being allowed 25 per cent capacity and Andrews is confident the state will not lose the event.

Seven chief executive James Warburton has been scathing and public in his attacks on cricket’s administration over recent weeks and insists his network can walk away from the game. Fox Cricket has refused to comment publicly and insists it wants to keep broadcasting while pushing behind the scenes for a discount on the contract.

Cricket Australia is adamant it will deliver a full summer schedule and the broadcasters are not due any fee reduction.

Broadcasters seem most angry by the failure to address existing concerns around the quality and length of the BBL.

The rights holders argue that the need for biosecurity bubbles for other formats will further rob the tournament of quality local players while Cricket Australia is throwing its efforts into attracting international players with a number of English cricketers rumoured to be ready to participate.

There were concerns Seven would walk away and not broadcast this summer, but the broadcaster rejected these suggestions.

Nine, meanwhile, is signalling its willingness to hopefully get Test cricket back at what would presumably be a reduced price.

“Of course we’d always be interested in having a discussion if a discussion’s there to be had,” chief executive Hugh Marks said at the weekend. “It’s a massive driver of revenue and audience across December and January. It is Australia’s national sport.”

Word is that Marks is most interested in Tests, which have minimal clashes with the tennis.

The broadcast conflict has caused some alarm in India, where some sections of the media have reported fears that the four-Tests and the one-day series against Australia could be cancelled.