ECB urged by UK MPs to broadcast Test cricket on free-to-air TV

The Members of Parliament (MPs) in the United Kingdom have reportedly requested the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to give cricket more visibility. They have proposed to the ECB for getting live Test cricket back on free-to-air television and playing more county cricket during the weekends. The proposal was the result of an inquiry set up to ensure that the ECB capitalizes on England’s maiden 50-over World Cup win earlier this summer.

Also Read | Rohit Sharma Is Taking Revenge On Himself Now, Says Shoaib Akhtar

As part of the inquiry, senior sportsmen were invited to provide evidence to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS). The witnesses presented by ECB involved Colin Graves (chairman), Clare Connor (women’s cricket managing director), and Tom Harrison (chief executive) and Lord Patel of Bradford (senior independent non-executive director).

Also Read | Harsha Bhogle Has One Word For Ashwin's Passion For The Game

Labour MP for Wrexham Ian Lucas focused his questions on the lack of live cricket on free television and highlighted concerning participation figures. He went on to wonder how many Ben Stokes the country has lost because cricket in the country has gone behind a paywall.

Also Read | Sourav Ganguly's First Day Of Second Innings As BCCI President

Harrison said that the fall in participation was a complex issue and that the media environment now is very different than in the past. Lucas attributed the rapid growth of women’s football in the UK to it being shown live on free-to-air TV. He urged ECB to air at least one Test match live on TV. The session also focused on the new 100-ball competition that will begin on July 2020. Harrison said that the ECB aimed at growing the game in the country through the new form of cricket. He said that The Hundred was an attempt to replicate the crowd enthusiasm that was witnessed during the World Cup.

Also Read | N Srinivasan To Represent BCCI; Board To Get $372 Million From ICC

The county saga

Other topics discussed included county cricket. Committee chair and Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe Damian Collins criticized lack of county cricket being played in the country. ECB officials claimed that less county games in 2019 were due to the busy World Cup schedule. However, the board assured that counties have been invited to form their schedule for 2020.  
The committee also discussed disparity in salary between men and women cricket team for The Hundred. Connor said that despite pay inequality, progress has been made in terms of what the women cricketers' pay from a few years ago and now. He said that it was a step in the right direction and that ECB was committed to closing the gap.