Sky extends Ashes TV deal

Sky will be hoping the next three Ashes series are as exhilarating as England's epic victory in 2005

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The next three Ashes series will be shown live on Sky Sports after the broadcaster won exclusive rights to England’s next tour of Australia, in the winter of 2010-2011.

Sky already hold the rights to this summer’s contest and the 2013 tour. It will also show the intervening series, having reached an agreement with Cricket Australia for the rights to all Australian international cricket from 2009 until September 2012.

This includes England’s 2010-11 tour plus Australia’s home series against Pakistan and West Indies in 2009-2010, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in 2010-2011 and New Zealand and India in 2011-12.

The 2010–2011 tour will be the sixth consecutive Ashes tour to Australia shown live by Sky, having first screened England Down Under during the winter of 1990-1991.

Vic Wakeling, managing director for Sky Sports, said: “We believe there is growing interest in all forms of cricket, but the priority for the English public remains the Ashes which is why we are delighted to be covering the next three series, through to and including the series planned for the summer of 2013."

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland added: “Cricket Australia is delighted to have finalised the deal with Sky Sports, an organisation that has a long and illustrious history of supplying high quality content to its viewers.”

“It is important that Australian cricket is seen by as many fans as possible around the world and the agreement with Sky Sports will help us to achieve this aim.”