Sky extends rights to England overseas cricket series

Sky has secured long-term agreements with the international cricket boards of Australia, India and South Africa, giving the satellite broadcaster exclusive live rights to six overseas series featuring England.

Next year's Ashes series is covered by the Australia deal, which will run from 2012 to 2016, while the Indian and South African contracts extend from this year until 2018 and 2020 respectively.

The agreements complement Sky's existing cricket line-up, which also includes England's home Test matches, One-Day and Twenty20 internationals, domestic fixtures and more.

Sky has negotiated extensions to many of its broadcasting deals over the past 18 months. Among the other events set to remain with the pay TV giant are Premier League football, British and Irish Lions rugby union, and Ryder Cup golf.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said Test cricket has always been "core" to the broadcaster, which has followed England live each winter since 1990.

"Sky Sports has never offered greater depth and breadth of coverage and this series of rights renewals gives us the strongest line-up of live sport for our viewers to watch at home or on the move," he added.