“You can stick with your original decision, you’re on screen now.” Met, we can only assume, with a sigh of relief from the on-field umpire, this utterance from the third umpire signals an unsuccessful review.
It’s one of myriad sounds I savour from November through to early March annually.
The sounds of summer – while no longer containing the familiar and comforting tone of Richie Benaud, or playful agitation between Bill Lawry and Tony Greig, all so aptly recreated by Billy Birmingham – are captured and distributed to millions of living rooms across the country.
While the pinnacle of cricket coverage, for me at least, is ABC Grandstand, with the informed voices of Jim Maxwell and Harsha Bhogle, as well as the addition of Chris Rogers for the most recent Australian summer, we oftentimes resort to Channel Nine because we want pictures. We want to see the action.
And despite its flaws – the chronicles of Spider Cam, and the introduction of ‘Pitch Scan’ (which, needless to say, pales in comparison to the old-fashioned key test) – annually, we watch. Free coverage of the game we love, how could we not?
With cricket’s status within Australia often seen as a source of concern for those in high places, efforts to improve its coverage and to bring the crowds back have been concentrated in the form of day-night Test matches.
They have been an irrefutable success, with the highest viewer ratings over the last two summers being for the two day-night matches at the Adelaide Oval, as well as at the Gabba.
It is the perfect time slot, and don’t the commentators love to remind us of how much of a raging success it is – all the while failing to give a quality insight to the happenings of the match, of course.
It is a shame, therefore, for both those covering the cricket and those of us who want to watch it, that at the moment, an incredible opportunity is being missed.
The hours of play for the Test series in India coincide almost exactly with those we would use here in Australia for day-night Test cricket, the optimum viewing times for the majority of the Australian public.
As it happens though, only a minority – those with pay TV – can enjoy it.
I understand the value of TV rights, and that my argument stems from nothing more than an unceasing desire to watch cricket, and a frustration that it must come at a cost, but it seems a shame that many among a cricket-supporting nation are missing out on a most enthralling series, full of fire, spite and heated competition.
It just isn’t the same catching up through media reports and delayed video highlights, and those who would broadcast the game on free-to-air, let alone the people responsible for its promotion, have let a fantastic opportunity go begging.
El Loco
Roar Rookie
The CA website is a bit weak for highlights too. I appreciate there's rights issues with foreign broadcasters involved, but it really smarts to see a 1:30 video for a day of overseas test cricket next to 10+ minutes of a Shield match!
El Loco
Roar Rookie
I feel your pain but have to say it wasn't exactly "in the fine print". The available viewing is listed pretty clearly and made my decision easy (i.e. give it a miss). My gripe is that it's not a rolling 365 day period. So when I checked it out it was proclaiming the Matador Cup as a highlight, when it had been run and won two months earlier. In fact it's not a 365 day pass at all, it's really just an Australian summer pass.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I totally agree Andrew. Test series involving Australia should be broadcast Free To Air, regardless of where they're played. Foxtel is too expensive and prohibitive for many people. The ACB, in prioritising tv rights income, is wasting a chance to retain and grow cricket lovers in this country. Especially at this time of year when there is little to compete with.
Bakkies
Guest
Due to Australia's shíte time zone with most overseas sport on during the night which you have to pay for to watch you need a good DVR recorder.
Armchair Expert
Guest
Agreed Bored, if you have a decent unlimited internet connection and a cheap android box you can get pretty much any test series for free or a few bucks per month.
E-Meter
Guest
Yeah I noticed that when I signed up. But they still make you pay for 's&%t' you don't want. I don't want the compulsory entertainment, drama or documentary package. I just want the sport and nothing else. Until they come up with that, I'll be holding out. At least I can watch NRL for free on my iPad.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
I went on the Foxtel Play site and you can get entertainment and sports for $40 per month and that can be used on 3 devices (only through one xbox). Split the cost between one or two mates and you have live sport from around the world all year round.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
I took a look at the Foxtel Play site, and you can get sports and some entertainment channels for $40 per month and that works on 3 devices. If you like a lot of sport it's not much money at all. If you go to the pub several times a year to watch sports then it pays for itself.
E-Meter
Guest
For a short term fix I signed up to the Foxtel Play free trial which got me through the 1st and 2nd Test, which I was able to stream through my TV. Deactivated the account on the day the trial ended. Then I signed up in my wifes name which will get me to the end of the 4th Test. As long as you've got a suitable broadband package there's no worry at all (and a smart TV of course).
E-Meter
Guest
Channel 10 had it where I was living in Ballina at the time.
Disco Stu
Roar Rookie
I experienced the lack of coverage in the worst possible way. I was camping with my son during the first test. While driving there on the Friday I could get coverage on ABC Extra, streaming online. No reception at the campground so resigned myself to no cricket. Went for a drive Saturday afternoon to joyfully discover they were broadcasting on regular ABC radio. Happily settled in for an evening with the cricket until at about 6.30, when Australia was looking a very good chance to win the match, the announcer says "Our analogue listeners will be leaving us now for the Super 15 rugby". I have never been so disappointed in my entire life. Driving home on the Sunday listening to Grandstand, Karen Tighe was talking about the memorable win and asking people to text in with stories about where they were when iconic sporting moments happened. Well Karen, I can tell you exactly where I was when Australia won an historic test match in Pune in 2017. I was sitting in front of a campfire, angrily drinking beer, NOT LISTENING TO THE BLOODY CRICKET.
Andrew Young
Roar Guru
Are they really?? Hardly a 365 day pass then, is it?! Rightly pissed off if you ask me!
mattatooski
Roar Rookie
One thing that really 'grinds my gears', is the fact that I have a Cricket Aust live pass for 365 days, but I can't watch any cricket live that is outside of Australia. WTF! I was so looking forward to watching the India series only to find out that I can't. My fault for not checking the fine print I suppose, but even still they could of made it a bit clearer that the games are only limited to games played in Australia.
Andrew Young
Roar Guru
That's an excellent observation, and is part of the reason i'd love to have access to it, but at the moment at least, it's just unrealistic. To get a far more broad spectrum understanding of the game and what is going on in different series around the world would be awesome!
Jon Price
Guest
I really dislike Fox's back up service and the concept of pay TV. However, I've seen Test cricket all around the world in the last 10 years. Various friends of mine have refused to subscribe to pay TV, but they've missed out on the joys of the best cricket I've seen. It is much more interesting seeing all the grounds in New Zealand, the West Indies, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, India and the UAE, than the same old Aussie grounds. The friends also have no idea how Australia plays as a Test team, apart from in Australia and England. Many Aussies have no idea how ineffectual we've been against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in recent away series. They think we are better than we are, because nearly all Test cricket they see is played in familiar conditions in Oz.
Andrew Young
Roar Guru
And it's invaluable, but as mentioned in the article, "we want to see the action"
Andrew Young
Roar Guru
Thanks for clarifying it for everyone Jamesb, not everyone can afford to fork out monthly payments like that for a luxury item; certainly not a student such as myself!
Justin
Guest
There is ABC radio coverage; just through the app on ABC Extra. Don't think its gotten enough publicity
jamesb
Guest
But for many Australians it's not dirt cheap. And people have more important priorities of where there hard earned goes to. Whether it's mortgages, bills, family or medical expenses. In the end, pay tv is a just luxury item.
Brainstrust
Guest
Reruns don't rate. If your going to get 12-20 hours of prime time per test which will add up to about 50-70 hours of high rating sport in prime time plus 25-35 in the daytime slot. its going to be worth millions easily. I would estimate that it would be a bargain at 10 million for the tour. Do we know how much Foxtel are paying, AFL for example gets 2 million per game, that translates to about 50 million. I doubt FOxtel are over the 10 million mark which would make it a very sensible and commercially viable investment for a free to air station.