The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has today (June 16) announced a renewed audio rights deal with UK public service broadcaster the BBC through the 2028 season.

The new four-year agreement extends the existing deal, which runs to 2024, and ensures live coverage of all England's home tests, one-day internationals, and international T20s will remain exclusively broadcast across BBC radio and the BBC Sounds audio streaming platform.

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The audio coverage will continue to be provided via the BBC's long-standing Test Match Special (TMS) show, which has provided ball-by-ball commentary since 1957.

TMS will also cover matches across the men’s county cricket and women’s domestic season with further analysis and news stories on the BBC Sport website.

In addition, there will be live commentary of every game from The Hundred, the short-form city-based competition, on BBC Radio and BBC Sounds.

The BBC is currently broadcasting England’s Ashes series against Australia which began today on home turf with the opening test at Edgbaston in the city of Birmingham.

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Tony Singh, ECB chief commercial officer, said: “For many people, TMS, BBC Radio and BBC Sounds will be constant companions through a thrilling summer of cricket. As well as being the only place to go for live audio commentary of The Ashes, it's also the home of so much great coverage of men’s county and women’s domestic cricket and The Hundred.

“We’re delighted that we have also now agreed an extension to this winning partnership so that listeners can continue to tune in to BBC Radio and BBC Sounds for live cricket commentary for a further four years.”

Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, added: “We know how much listeners cherish cricket on BBC radio and especially TMS with its unique combination of expert analysis, lively, engaging, and entertaining commentary.

“It is part of the fabric of cricket and we are delighted this new deal ensures TMS continues its great tradition of making cricket accessible to all.”

Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images