Cricket World Cup: England's final against New Zealand live on free-to-air TV
- Published
English cricket has been behind a subscription paywall since 2005
ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Final - England v New Zealand |
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Venue: Lord's Dates: Sunday, 14 July Time: 10:30 BST |
Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, Radio 4 LW, online, tablets, mobiles and BBC Sport app. Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website. Live TV coverage on Channel 4 & Sky Sports |
England's Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand on Sunday will be shown live on free-to-air television on Channel 4.
The broadcaster has agreed a deal with rights-holders Sky to show the match - England's first men's 50-over World Cup final since 1992.
England reached the final by thrashing Australia at Edgbaston on Thursday.
There will be also Test Match Special radio commentary, plus clips on the BBC Sport website and app.
The Lord's final is part of a bumper day for British sport which also features the Wimbledon men's final and the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Channel 4 will show Sky's cricket coverage from 09:00 BST before coverage moves to More 4 at 13:15 while the British Grand Prix airs on Channel 4. The cricket then returns to Channel 4 after the race.
Live cricket has not been available on free-to-air TV in the UK since England's famous victory over Australia in the 2005 Ashes.
England captain Eoin Morgan said it is "really important for cricket" that Sunday's final is available to watch.
"It's cool, it's great that everyone gets the chance to see it," he said. "The 2005 Ashes was the moment for me when cricket became cool. That whole summer it was on all the front and back pages, everywhere.
"I don't think we will understand the impact until after the tournament when the guys go home. We will be recognised more than before."
Former England captain Alastair Cook said it is a "fantastic move" from Sky to allow the final to be shown free-to-air and it can "inspire the next generation".
"It's a once on a lifetime opportunity for these players to play in a home World Cup and to have this opportunity to put it on free-to-air, so hopefully many more millions of people can watch it and hopefully see an England win. It can inspire the next generation," Cook told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"If they win the World Cup, the first 50-over tournament England have ever won, it can only be a good thing for cricket.
"And then amazingly a week-and-a-half later we start an Ashes series so it could be a very, very special eight or nine weeks for English cricket."