TNT Sports and 5 land Cricket Australia deal for England’s winter tour and 150th anniversary Test

UK cricket fans will be able to watch England’s white-ball tour of Australia live on TNT Sports this winter, after the broadcaster agreed a deal with Cricket Australia on 30 October 2026. Free-to-air broadcaster 5 will show highlights of each England limited-overs match after it finishes.

In total, TNT Sports will show 16 matches live from Australia’s home international season. Nine involve England: three one-day internationals and five Twenty20 internationals in November and December, followed by the 150th Anniversary Test Match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from 11 to 15 March 2027.

England’s tour starts with the first one-day international in Perth on 13 November, then Adelaide on 15 November and Hobart on 18 November. Five T20 matches run from 21 November to 2 December, finishing in Canberra. The anniversary Test closes the season in March, marking 150 years since the first Test match.

The deal also covers New Zealand’s visit: all four men’s Tests from 9 December 2026 to 8 January 2027, and the three-match women’s one-day series in March 2027.

TNT Sports said the deal strengthens its cricket offering, alongside New Zealand’s and India’s home fixtures. Sportcal reports TNT Sports also covered the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia, and has shown every Ashes series since 2017-18. TNT Sports is available through HBO Max from £25.99 a month on a standalone 12-month plan, and through EE TV, Prime Video, Sky and Virgin Media.

Why it matters

England’s overseas tours have often been hard for UK fans to follow, with matches played overnight and rights split between broadcasters. This deal puts the whole winter tour in one place, while the highlights on 5 mean fans without a subscription can still catch up.

The anniversary Test is the centrepiece. A one-off Test at the MCG to mark 150 years of Test cricket is a rare occasion, and having it on the same broadcaster as the winter tour gives the season a clear storyline, from Perth to the final day in Melbourne.

What happens next

The first ball is due on 13 November in Perth, with the one-day series followed by the five T20 matches. The New Zealand Tests then run through December and into early January, before the women’s one-day series and the anniversary Test in March 2027. TNT Sports is expected to confirm its commentary and production plans before the tour begins.

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.

Sources

• https://www.tntsports.co.uk/cricket/agree-deal-australia-season-down-under_sto23350569/story.shtml (TNT Sports, 30 October 2026)
• https://www.sportcal.com/media/uks-tnt-sports-and-5-in-short-term-australian-cricket-tie-up/ (Sportcal, 30 October 2026)