I like the one dayers / T20 to come first. It helps build up to the test series in my view. Rather at the end of the series. Especially no big bash at this point of time.
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Considering the power/pull the BCCI has, it shouldn’t be shocking for Seven that Cricket Australia would cater to their requests.
The Australian has published an article which provides more details about what Seven alleges in their affidavit (eg; both the Australian/Indian test series and the BBL were meant to begin on December 3rd). To say the spat between Seven & Cricket Australia has gotten ugly would be an understatement - it’s clear both parties are extremely dissatisfied at how the other is behaving.
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From The Age
"The Indians won’t quarantine twice,” he said Roach replied. “They want their Test players and white ball players to quarantine together at the same time, and then after the white ball matches are played the white ball players can go home and the Test players stay in Australia.”
Seems reasonable given the circumstances.
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ESPNCricinfo assistant editor Daniel Brettig has written a good piece analysing the affidavit filed by Seven.
Two points stand out for me:
The remarkable thing about all this evidence, however, is that at no stage have Seven’s head of Sport, Lewis Martin, or his chief executive James Warburton and multibillionaire chairman Kerry Stokes, seemed to have reached the realisation that the cricket world simply does not revolve around them in the same way a reality TV show they commissioned might.
Seven were, by all accounts, agitating for changes to their deal with CA even before Covid-19 scythed through the plans of so many from March onwards. What’s happened since is a reminder that sport in general and cricket in particular must operate according to the demands of many partners, not just one indebted broadcaster.
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I guess when the contract ends we will have another FTA broadcaster.
I’d be happy if the next network got it with Foxtel. The FTA bring all the international games.
For the Big Bashes they can black out games that are local to encourage crowds (unless it is a sellout). Foxtel will get all the games. Not sure if this concept works these days. Remember trying to get 5A in the old days and NBN/WIN to see the cricket in Sydney :).
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Agree with most of what Brettig said in that article. However, think he’s misreading why Seven (in their view) feels aggrieved when he says this:
By alleging that there is an inherent breach of contract in CA’s need to work with other parties, such as India’s powerful BCCI, fellow rights holders Foxtel and federal and state governments including that of Tasmania, the network has revealed that in its current debt-ridden state, perspective is sorely missing.
As far I understand it, Seven’s issue isn’t that CA had to work with other parties but rather they accommodated everyone’s requests/needs bar Seven’s. Don’t get me wrong - I think Seven’s case is pretty weak and I’ll be surprised if they achieve even a somewhat positive outcome from the litigation process that will happen. However, think there’s a difference between the case Seven are making and the one Brettig thinks they put forward.
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So the Stars have to get 100,000 to the MCG to ever get a game televised live on FTA in Melbourne? Don’t think it’s gonna happen…
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This isn’t the AFL or NRL where the broadcaster has traditionally been able to wield significant power over specific requirements
As much as we don’t like the power the BCCI wields over International Cricket - going against them at the moment isn’t really an option and has potential impacts beyond a few matches in December
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At this point, Seven should probably take the discount CA has offered them or try to tack on a percent or two more to settle this mess.
Seven really don’t have the best history in sports contract litigation.
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I do wonder if the dispute will lead to Tasmanian viewers boycotting Seven’s coverage of the upcoming tests and BBL (which won’t help the local team Hobart Hurricanes), and general programming on Seven Tasmania.
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Mind you, it resulted in the C7 Sport lawsuit - a case the likes of which we’ll probably never see again. For those who don’t know, it was pretty much Seven against (seemingly) every media outlet and sports body you can think of
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yeah I agree. Maybe I was in a dream from the 80s and 90s, trying to tune into WIN TV. I have woken up now and back to 2020 
.
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If the date is confirmed, that means the upcoming BBL season will get a clear run with the final to be played just two days before the start of AO. Seven should be happy about it.
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Simon Taufel, Brian Lara and Sunil Gaviskar all join sevens coverage this summer
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Legends join Seven’s Summer of Cricket
Gavaskar and Lara sign on to cricket’s best team
Cricket’s #1 commentary team has just got even better, with the Seven Network adding two of the game’s all-time greats – Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara – to its star-studded line-up for what is shaping up as a spectacular 2020-21 season.
Gavaskar, a fearless opener who averaged 51.22 in 125 Tests for India, will join Seven for all four Tests in Australia’s blockbuster series against India, when the world’s two best teams compete for the coveted prize that bears his name – the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
From the opening day of the first Test at Adelaide Oval on 17 December, Gavaskar will be part of Seven’s incomparable team that will again be led by cricket’s most astute commentator, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting.
Former Aussie stars Michael Slater, Damien Fleming and Simon Katich will also return as expert commentators, along with Greg Blewett in the Adelaide Test, while Mel McLaughlin, James Brayshaw, Tim Lane, Alison Mitchell and analyst Trent Copeland round out Test cricket’s best commentary team.
Across 131 Tests and 299 One-Day Internationals for the West Indies, Lara was one of the most destructive batsmen cricket has seen. He will be a key member of Seven’s BBL coverage, which kicks off 10 December.
The swashbuckling left-hander, who still holds the record Test score of 400 not out, never got to play T20 cricket at international level, but no batsmen before or since has been more naturally suited to the game’s shortest format.
Lara will be in illustrious company in the commentary box, with Seven’s BBL team including Ponting, Slater, Fleming, Brayshaw, McLaughlin, Blewett, Copeland, Brad Hodge, Lisa Sthalekar, Abbey Gelmi, Jason Richardson, Andy Maher, Alister Nicholson and Erin Holland.
In another exciting addition to Seven’s coverage this summer, five-time ICC Umpire of the Year, Simon Taufel, will join the Test team to give his expert analysis
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Sunil Gavaskar was part of Sony’s commentary team back home, when India last toured Australia in 2018/19.
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Australia v India: Test 1
Starts 17 December
Basic schedule for each day
Sydney, Melbourne
2:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 Pre Game
3:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
5:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: The Lunch Break
5:40 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
6:00 PM Cricket on 7Mate
7:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
7:40 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Tea Break
8:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
10:30 PM …
Brisbane
1:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 Pre Game
2:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
4:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: The Lunch Break
4:40 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
6:00 PM Cricket on 7Mate
7:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
9:30 PM …
Adelaide
1:30 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 Pre Game
2:30 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
4:30 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: The Lunch Break
5:10 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
6:00 PM Cricket on 7Mate
7:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
7:30 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
10:00 PM …
Perth
11:00 AM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 Pre Game
12:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
2:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: The Lunch Break
2:40 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
4:40 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Tea Break
5:00 PM Test Cricket Australia v India: Test 1 - Day 1
6:00 PM Cricket on 7Mate
7:30 PM …
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This test series will be lengths better than last year
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Tea Break
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For a day/night test, why will CA schedule the main break at 4.30pm local time?
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