Dartford MP, Dr Howard Stoate has added his support to the growing campaign in Parliament for summer test  match cricket to be restored to the ‘A-list’ of live sporting events which are reserved for ‘free to air’ broadcasters.

From 2006-2009 all home test match cricket will be shown live on BSkyB with only a recorded highlights programme available on free to air TV (Channel 5). The deal has been heavily criticised by fans and cricket experts who feel that the decision will put at risk the sport’s growing popularity following the recent Ashes triumph.

Dr Stoate is to sign a House of Commons motion which calls for cricket to be returned to the A List and urges the Government and the ECB to ‘explore ways in which at least some test match cricket can be seen live on free to air TV’ during the duration of the BSkyB contract.

“The new deal with BSkyB is undoubtedly a lucrative one from a financial perspective, but it will mean that in the next few years only a small fraction of the huge audience which watched England reclaim the Ashes this summer will be able to watch England compete at home. From a marketing perspective it makes no sense whatsoever: at the very moment when the ECB should be looking to capitalise on the growing popularity of the game, it has compromised its ability to do so by signing a deal which will slash its potential audience,” said Dr Stoate.

“I accept that the ECB’s options at the time when the deal were signed were limited due to the BBC’s decision not to submit a meaningful bid, but in view of the events of the last few months I think the ECB needs to sit down with the broadcasters and the Government to thrash out a compromise deal. It would be a tragedy if the enthusiasm for the sport generated by this summer’s series was allowed to die away.”