Channel 7 have confirmed they have secured the rights for Australia's upcoming Test and ODI tour of Sri Lanka.
It's the first time since 1997 that a free to air broadcaster have secured the rights to an Australian cricket tour outside of the Ashes, and the first time - with the exception of a T20 international series against Bangladesh in 2020 - that Fox Sports have not held the rights in the same time span.
Seven confirmed on Friday that they have secured the rights for the two Tests and the two ODIs. The series was only set to feature a single ODI, but to give both nations more preparation time for the Champions Trophy which will be held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, a second match has been added.
The first Test of the series commences on January 29 in Galle and will be at an ideal time for Australian audiences, with play to run from 3:30pm (AEDT) until approximately 11pm (AEDT) each day.
โWhat this summer has shown us is that Australians absolutely love their cricket, and we cannot wait to deliver even more action as Australia takes on Sri Lanka,โ Seven's head of cricket Joel Starcevic said in a statement.
โFollowing an exhilarating Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series, two of the greatest WBBL and BBL seasons in recent history and the intensity of the current Women's Ashes Series on home soil, the addition of Australia's tour of Sri Lanka cements Seven and 7plus Sport as the undisputed home of cricket.โ
Full tour of Sri Lanka schedule
First Test: Wednesday, January 29 to Sunday, February 2, 3:30pm - 11pm daily (AEDT), Galle
Second Test: Thursday, February 6 to Monday, February 10, 3:30pm - 11pm daily (AEDT), Galle
First ODI: Wednesday, February 12, 3:30pm - 11:15pm (AEDT), Colombo
Second ODI: Friday, February 14, 3:30pm - 11:15pm (AEDT), Colombo