• Colin Graves says talks over broadcast rights have begun • BBC last held rights to live Test match coverage in 1999

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The BBC will have an opportunity to screen live cricket coverage again from 2019, with the England and Wales Cricket Board holding talks with interested parties.

The ECB chairman Colin Graves told the Times that the governing body’s commercial staff have begun discussions over a new deal to replace the current live rights contract with Sky, which runs for the next four years.

Graves, whose own tenure ends in 2020, is hoping early dialogue with all potential broadcasters will bear fruit.

“Our commercial guys are talking to everybody – all the broadcasters, not just the BBC – and saying that, if we have a new format of packages, would you be interested. That is both domestic and the international bit.”

There are likely to be several live rights deals available, in a changing landscape in English cricket. The ECB is working on a possible revamp of the domestic schedule by 2017, with options including an updated Twenty20 competition which might attract renewed interest.

The BBC last held the rights to broadcast live Test match television coverage in 1999. The overriding likelihood is that Sky will retain the bulk of the international output, with BT Sport another player following its success in securing the 2017-18 Ashes series.

Graves added: “It is early days, but we want to get the packages right, so the broadcasters who are interested can bid for them. There is no priority for anybody.”