Illegal streaming concerns Clarke

Giles Clarke, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has branded the illegal streaming of matches the biggest problem affecting the game.

Like many sports, cricket's financial future is underpinned by broadcasting rights deals, which can be compromised by pirate websites showing matches live on the internet. The ECB on Thursday announced a new six-year deal with the BBC to continue Test Match Special's exclusive radio rights for home internationals, with a new Sky television contract also in the offing.

Clarke appeared on TMS during Thursday's second Test against Pakistan and spoke about the problem of illegal streams. Clarke said: "We all have to be very vigilant."

He added: "There are a huge number of pirate websites streaming cricket on the internet taken from television broadcasts - we and our broadcasters closed down 700 during last summer's series against India. It's an extremely complex procedure, but it can be done and it has to be done.

"That is the biggest danger to cricket, because they take money out of the game without commercial benefit to us. They are being used by the bookmakers as well. The problem of pirate site streaming is very big for sport."

As a result of Thursday's deal, the BBC's radio commitment to English cricket has been extended to 2019 and will take in two home Ashes series as well as visits from India and South Africa.

ECB chief executive David Collier said: "This is excellent news for all cricket-lovers.

"Test Match Special brings cricket into millions of homes in this country each summer and is widely recognised for its unique and world-class coverage of cricket."