Cricket Australia is expected to resist any moves by its television partners to secure markdowns on their next payments under the $1.18 billion broadcast deal, believing they should pay full freight if the summer goes ahead as planned despite the financial woes caused by COVID-19.

As former CA chief executive Malcolm Speed on Monday weighed into cricket’s cash crisis, saying current boss Kevin Roberts had “stumbled” in explaining the situation, attention turned to the plight of the code’s two major broadcasters and the potentially disastrous impact of COVID-19 on the game.

Seven and Foxtel both show men's Tests under the $1.18 billion television deal signed in 2018. Credit:Getty

Both Foxtel, majority owned by News Corp, and Seven West Media, owned by billionaire Kerry Stokes, were in strife before the virus forced the country into lockdown and their problems have since deepened.

Sources within CA indicate there is an expectation at Jolimont that broadcasters may claim they are not in a position to fully meet their contractual obligations this summer. Their next payments, due in September and worth a combined $100 million, are being relied upon by the governing body to help restore its finances. Roberts said its coffers would be depleted by August if staff were not stood down, cuts not negotiated with state associations and “creative solutions” not found with players.