Cricket in the UK is split between two distinct rights universes: the international and county cycle on Sky Sports Cricket, and the franchise/short-format event The Hundred on the BBC. The split reflects the ECB’s deliberate strategy to keep a marquee free-to-air cricket property in front of UK viewers while monetising the bulk of the rights through Sky.
England summer — Sky Sports Cricket
The full England men’s and women’s international summer is on Sky Sports Cricket. This includes the Test series (typically four to six Tests across May to September), the ODI series (typically three to five ODIs), and the T20I series (typically three to five T20Is). Sky also holds the touring side training and warm-up matches when those are broadcast.
A typical Sky Sports Cricket Test broadcast runs 10:30 to 18:00 UK time on each of the five potential days, with the Sky commentary box on Sky Sports Cricket (the dedicated channel) and a Sky Sports Main Event simulcast for the headline session each day.
The Hundred — BBC free-to-air
The Hundred (the ECB’s 100-ball franchise tournament) runs August into September each year and is on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer free-to-air for a selection of matches, plus the men’s and women’s finals. Sky Sports Cricket carries every Hundred fixture live as the comprehensive subscription option, with the BBC’s selection being roughly 10 of the 60+ matches plus the finals weekend.
Cricket World Cup and ICC events
The ICC Cricket World Cup (ODI and T20I) and ICC Champions Trophy are on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK. The 2024 T20 World Cup was on Sky Sports Cricket in full, with the England matches simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event.
Indian Premier League — Sky Sports Cricket
The IPL is on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK in full, with all 70+ league matches plus the playoffs. The 2026 IPL season runs late March through late May, broadcast live overnight UK time (15:00 to 19:00 UK time for the afternoon matches; 18:00 to 23:00 UK time for the evening matches).
County Championship and Vitality Blast
The County Championship is on Sky Sports Cricket for selected matches each season, with the full live coverage on the ECB’s own streaming service. The Vitality Blast T20 competition has the headline matches on Sky Sports Cricket, with a selection of free-to-air group matches on BBC iPlayer.
Subscription cost reality
Sky Sports Cricket is part of the Sky Sports package — roughly £40-£46 per month on a Sky contract, or £34.99 per month on a NOW Sports Membership. For viewers whose primary interest is the summer Test series, a NOW Sports Membership purchased for the May-to-September window is the budget-conscious option.
BBC is free with a UK TV licence (£169.50 per year), which covers the Hundred finals weekend and selected men’s and women’s matches.
Useful editorial sources
- Tennis UK broadcaster guide — the other summer outdoor sport
- Golf UK broadcaster guide — Sky Sports Golf
- Football UK broadcaster guide — Sky Sports’ anchor property
The 2026 England summer Test series includes a four-Test series against Australia at home (the Ashes return) and a three-Test series against New Zealand. The Hundred 2026 runs the first weekend of August through the third weekend of September.