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'Train wreck': Channel 7 in $450 million war with Cricket Australia

australian associated press
·3-min read
The Australian Test team is pictured celebrating after their series victory over New Zealand in January, 2020.
The future of cricket broadcasting in Australia is up in the air after Channel 7 accused Cricket Australia of being an 'incompetent administration'. (Photo by JEREMY NG/AFP via Getty Images)

The Seven Network is considering aborting its contract with Cricket Australia (CA), labelling the sport's governing body incompetent.

Seven boss James Warburton has labelled CA "the most incompetent administration I have ever worked with".

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"It's a train wreck," Warburton told News Corp.

"We are forced to consider all our options including terminating the contract and we have put them on notice."

Seven still has four years to run on its $450 million contract to broadcast cricket in Australia.

But Warburton and fellow network chiefs are increasingly frustrated at CA which is yet to detail its scheduling for the looming summer, both for internationals and domestic competitions.

India is due to play four Test matches against Australia as well as 50-over and Twenty20 games.

Afghanistan is due to play one Test in Australia.

CA's interim chief executive officer Nick Hockley on Thursday was adamant the game wouldn't renegotiate cheaper deals with Seven like the AFL did, and also like the NRL did with the Nine Network.

But Warburton savaged the governing body amid concerns the Big Bash League, a ratings winner, would be a diluted competition this summer with no international players due to coronavirus travel restrictions.

Australia's top players were also unlikely to feature in the BBL due to national commitments.

"This is not an acceptable product and we will not support the season," Warburton said.

The Sydney Sixers are pictured celebrating winning the 2019/20 Big Bash League.
Channel 7 have been particularly critical of the scheduling for the 2020/21 Big Bash League, which clashes with the international touring schedule. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

"Cricket Australia have an obligation to deliver a competition of no lesser standard than the past.

"What a bumbling, stumbling administration.

"How stupid to schedule international cricket against the BBL and drain the resources of a competition already under pressure.

"It's a joke and it rips off the fans."

Cricket Australia backing women’s comps

Cricket Australia will take it upon themselves to help ensure the worldwide momentum behind the women's game doesn't stop as a result of COVID-19.

CA released their Press for Progress report on Thursday, detailing the continued growth of women's cricket in the country.

The report is headlined by the achievements around Australia's successful T20 World Cup, and the 86,174 that watched the final at the MCG.

But that event also acts as a warning for the women's game.

No top-tier internationals have been played since as a result of the pandemic, while next year's 50-over World Cup has been postponed by a year.

An inaugural under-19s World Cup set for next year is now marked as TBC, while the West Indies recently had to replace South Africa for an upcoming tour of England.

At home, Australia are in good hands. They host New Zealand next month and will likely tour there at the end of the summer.

The WBBL will also go ahead, with CA confident the clash with India's own women's T20 Challenge would only be a one off due to the pandemic.