TELEVISING OF HOME ASHES SERIES

That this House welcomes the popular revival of cricket that followed England's victory over Australia in the 2005 Ashes series; notes that over eight million viewers watched the series when it was broadcast free-to-air on Channel Four; regrets that there will be fewer potential viewers for the world's premier Test match competition if the England and Wales Cricket Board awards exclusive rights for the 2009 series to BSkyB; and urges the Government to strike a balance between commercial investment and public interest by restoring the home Ashes Test matches to the A-list of protected events.