How to Watch Cricket in the UK: Sky, TNT, BBC and NOW

To watch cricket in the UK, start with Sky Sports Cricket, which shows England’s home international summer and The Hundred. England’s overseas tours vary by host country: TNT Sports showed the 2025-26 Ashes and has a five-year deal for England tours of India, while Sky has shown other tours in the past. Free coverage comes from BBC highlights, BBC radio’s Test Match Special and selected live matches.

The rest of this guide explains how each competition is covered and the cheapest way to get it, at the time of writing.

Why cricket rights are split

Each cricket board sells the rights to matches played in its own country. So the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decides who shows England’s home summer, but Cricket Australia, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and others sell the rights when England tour there. That is why England’s winter cricket can land on a different channel from one tour to the next.

Who shows what

Franchise leagues such as the IPL and global ICC tournaments have their own UK deals, so check listings before each event.

Sky Sports Cricket: the cheapest way in

NOW now offers a Multi-Sport membership that includes Sky Sports Cricket without the football channels:

Prices are from NOW’s help pages at the time of writing. Because the English season is mostly May to September, a flexible membership that you start in spring and cancel in autumn can be cheaper than a year-round Saver term.

Women’s cricket

England women’s home internationals are part of the ECB’s home rights, so they are live on Sky Sports Cricket, with BBC highlights. The women’s competition of The Hundred runs alongside the men’s, and many of its games are shown on the same channels, including some free-to-air on the BBC. Women’s overseas tours follow the same rule as men’s: the host board sells the rights, so the UK broadcaster varies.

TNT Sports for overseas tours

When England tours a country whose rights TNT holds, you will need TNT Sports. In the UK it is sold through HBO Max at around £30.99 a month, or about £25.99 a month on a 12-month saver, at the time of writing. BT, EE, Sky and Virgin Media customers can also add it to their TV package. For a single tour, a monthly plan you cancel afterwards usually makes the most sense.

Free cricket in the UK

• BBC highlights of England’s home internationals on BBC TV and iPlayer (TV licence required, £180 a year from April 2026).
• Live Hundred matches on the BBC during the summer.
• Test Match Special ball-by-ball radio commentary on BBC radio and BBC Sounds, for home and many away series.
• Official clips from the ECB, broadcasters and the ICC on YouTube.

What to look forward to

Summer 2027 brings the Ashes back to England, with Australia touring alongside New Zealand. As a home series, that will be on Sky Sports, with BBC highlights and Test Match Special on the radio. Before then, check the ECB website for England’s winter fixtures and the broadcaster for each tour.

Getting set up

1. Check who holds the rights for the series you want, using the ECB site or the broadcaster’s schedule.
2. Pick the shortest subscription that covers it: a NOW Day Membership for a single final, a month for a Test series.
3. Install the NOW, HBO Max or BBC iPlayer apps on your TV. Our list of the best streaming devices compares good options for UK apps.
4. For overnight Tests from Australia or New Zealand, use the replay and catch-up features rather than staying up for every session.

Unlicensed cricket streams are illegal in the UK and often riddled with scam adverts. Our guide on subscribing to IPTV safely explains what to avoid. If you want a broader live-TV package alongside the official apps, our IPTV Journal plan is $89 for 12 months. For more sport over IPTV, see our guide to IPTV sports packages.

Which option should you choose?

• England home summer: NOW Multi-Sport from May to September, or Sky Sports on a Sky package.
• England abroad: check the tour; a month of TNT Sports or NOW as needed.
• Free fan: BBC highlights, live Hundred matches and Test Match Special.

FAQ

What channel is England cricket on in the UK?

England’s home internationals are live on Sky Sports Cricket, with highlights on the BBC. Overseas tours depend on the host board: TNT Sports showed the 2025-26 Ashes and has England tours of India, while Sky has shown other tours in the past.

Can I watch cricket without Sky TV?

Yes. NOW streams Sky Sports Cricket with no Sky contract. The Multi-Sport membership includes cricket for around £26.99 a month flexible or £19.99 on a Saver term at the time of writing.

Is any cricket free-to-air in the UK?

Yes. The BBC shows highlights of England home internationals and selected live matches from The Hundred, and BBC radio’s Test Match Special covers most England series ball by ball.

Where is the 2027 Ashes shown in the UK?

The 2027 Ashes is a home series for England, and the ECB’s home international rights are held by Sky Sports, with highlights on the BBC. Confirm the exact coverage closer to the series.

Does NOW Football include cricket?

No. Sky Sports Cricket is part of NOW’s Multi-Sport and All Sky Sports memberships, not the Football membership.

Part of our guides: UK streaming guide