london channel 4 has secured the telecast rights of englands highprofile test series against india beginning with the first match on friday after striking a deal with star sportsthis will be the first time test cricket returns to terrestrial television in the uk since the 2005 asheschannel 4 will show exclusive free to air live television coverage of englands test series against india the channel said in a statementthis will be the first time live test cricket has been on free to air television since channel 4 showed englands momentous ashes win in 2005it said ballbyball coverage of all four tests will be shown live on channel 4 and all 4and for viewers who cant manage the early 4am start highlights will be available on all 4channel 4s head of sport pete andrews and penny mills head of sports rights led the broadcasters negotiations to secure the dealwere delighted to be showing live test cricket on channel 4 again and given the recent performances of both sides this series is set to be a cracker were thrilled to have struck this deal with star sports said andrewschannel 4s chief content officer ian katz said its fantastic news for all cricket fans in the ukits been a long 16year wait for the return of live test cricket to free to air television but it couldnt have come at a better time what better antidote to the lockdown blues than an england test series in sunny india