BBC outbid for rights to England’s tours to Sri Lanka and West Indies

The BBC has suffered a significant setback after being outbid for the radio broadcasting rights for England’s tours to Sri Lanka and the West Indies next winter.

The live ball-by-ball radio rights have been bought by talkSPORT, which is also close to sealing an agreement for the same rights for England’s tour to South Africa in 2019-20.

It is the first time that the BBC’s Test Match Special has lost the rights since 2004-05, when it was also outbid by talkSPORT for England’s tour to South Africa.