Seven's Summer of Cricket starts now

Seven’s Summer of Cricket starts now – The Ashes, BBL, WBBL, Women’s International Series all live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport.

Cricket’s #1 commentary team is primed and ready as the Seven Network’s Summer of Cricket gets underway on Sunday, November 9, with an unbeatable summer lineup featuring men’s and women’s Big Bash League, a multi-format Women’s International series against India and the ultimate test in world sport, The Ashes, all live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport.

Announced today at Seven’s official Summer of Cricket launch at Summer Hill Junior Cricket Club in Sydney, renowned cricket broadcaster, David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd will join Seven’s exemplary commentary team for the Ashes, alongside master of the Ashes and world-leading cricket analyst, Stuart Broad.

Beloved by cricket fans around the world for his quick wit, sharp cricket brain and unmistakable charm, the man more affectionately known as Bumble joins Seven’s commentary team for the Summer of Cricket, promising fans an equally informative and entertaining commentary experience.

Former England batsman, coach and umpire-turned-broadcaster, Bumble has spent over two decades behind the microphone entertaining audiences with his trademark humour and deep understanding of the game. Known for his colourful commentary and mischievous charm, Bumble’s passion for cricket and storytelling make him one of the most recognisable voices in the sport.

Joining Seven’s new signings throughout the Ashes will be who’s who of Australian cricket greats, including cricket’s most astute caller Ricky Ponting, fellow Australian champion batsman Matthew Hayden, and the man who last coached Australia to an Ashes series victory, Justin Langer.

Also returning to Seven’s unbeatable cricket line-up is former Australian One Day International (ODI) and T20I captain Aaron Finch, who will feature on the first two Test matches of the Ashes in Perth and Brisbane and the 2025-26 Big Bash League (BBL) season.

Following his debut in the Seven commentary box last year, current Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc returns for his third season, joining Seven’s coverage of the Women’s T20 matches against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), starting Sunday, 15 February 2026 on Seven and 7plus Sport.

After a break-out 2024-25 summer on the airwaves and a stellar 2025 across Seven’s AFL and AFLW coverage, Kate McCarthy joins Seven’s cricket team for WBBL and Women’s International Series.

Across an action-packed summer with the highly anticipated Ashes, an electrifying WBBL and BBL fixture and a multi-format Women’s International Series that will have fans on the edge of their seats, these big names are just the start of Seven’s formidable on-air line-up.

A procession of former on-field stars will also return to Seven’s cricket team as expert commentators, joining Ponting, Langer, Hayden, Finch, Broad, Starc and Lloyd. The team includes Greg Blewett, Lisa Sthalekar, Trent Copeland, Callum Ferguson, Holly Ferling, Damien Fleming, Brad Hodge, Simon Katich, Jason Behrendorff, Katey Martin, Kirby Short, Theo Doropoulos and Elyse Villani.

Leading Seven sport presenters James Brayshaw, Mel McLaughlin and Emma Freedman will return to headline the network’s cricket coverage, alongside resident callers Alister Nicholson, Tim Lane, Alison Mitchell, Andy Maher and Jason Richardson.

Current stars Alex Carey, Chris Green, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Sam Billings and Tim David will feature regularly on Seven’s live and free BBL coverage, while 7NEWS sport reporters Theo Doropoulos and Xander McGuire will also be boundary-side throughout the season.

In another exciting announcement for viewers, five-time ICC Umpire of the Year Simon Taufel returns to Seven’s team for the Ashes, bringing his expert knowledge to help unpack the game’s most contentious moments.

Respected cricket journalists Peter Lalor and Bharat Sundaresan will also be on deck to report the biggest breaking-news stories of each day’s play during the Ashes, while 7NEWS National Cricket Reporter, Tom Wilson will deliver exclusive updates and breaking news across 7NEWS bulletins nationally, from inside key Test venues.

Seven’s Summer of Cricket lineup will also feature a strong slate of magazine programs, headlined by Unfiltered, proudly supported by Westpac, which makes its cricket debut this season. For the first time, the popular interview series, led by Seven’s Hamish McLachlan, will spotlight the game’s biggest names and stories, with five special cricket-themed episodes to air from Saturday, 22 November, after Day Two of the West Test.

For the first edition, Hamish McLachlan will sit down with Australian wicket-keeper, Alex Carey. In a wide-ranging chat, Carey will open up about life in the baggy green, his path from AFL hopeful to Test cricketer, and the moments that have defined his career so far, including that infamous Jonny Bairstow Ashes stumping.

In a major coup for cricket fans, everyone’s favourite sport show, The Front Bar is set to serve two massive nights of laughs, nostalgia, and cricket gold on Wednesday, 19 and 26 November on Seven and 7plus Sport.

Kicking off the first instalment of the The Front Bar: Cricket Edition, Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh will join Mick, Sam and Andy to reflect on some of his greatest moments in the baggy green, share never-before-heard stories from the dressing room, and offer his take on the upcoming summer.

Then in week two, the ultimate Ashes antagonist – and now 7Cricket commentator – Stuart Broad will pull up a stool, ready to dish on his fiercest battles with Australia, his new life behind the microphone, and why the rivalry between Australia and England remains the best in world sport.

Cricket fans are in for a treat when James Brayshaw, Ricky Ponting and Aaron Finch team up for a special Ashes Preview Show on Wednesday, 19 November, straight after The Front Bar and ahead of the West Test.

Rounding out Seven’s cricket magazine offering, The Spin returns for its third season, continuing to dissect and analyse the biggest stories affecting all formats during the Summer of Cricket.

Led by regular host Jason Richardson, each episode will feature a rotating cast of Seven’s biggest cricket stars – with Lisa Sthalekar, Brad Hodge, Will Pucovski, Jason Behrendorff, Damien Fleming, Aaron Finch, and many more dropping in across the summer.

In a fun twist for cricket fans, the 7AFL Kids Call will receive a cricket makeover. Three junior commentators will get behind the Seven microphone for the inaugural 7Cricket Kids Call, broadcast live, free and exclusively on 7plus Sport during BBL 15.

The Summer of Cricket kicks off this Sunday, 9 November with three back-to-back WBBL matches, starting with the Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades from 1.30pm AEDT live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport.

Better Homes and Gardens on Channel 7 and 7plus S31E39

Seven Network Head of Cricket, Joel Starcevic said:

“What better way to kick off an incredible Summer of Cricket than with a fiery start to the WBBL season this Sunday, live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport?”

“Our women’s international cricket team is arguably our most successful sporting team in Australia in recent memory, so to have every member of that team play in the WBBL speaks volumes for how strong this competition is,”

– he said.

“Broadcasting every WBBL match live from the stadium, Seven is proud to deliver the very best coverage possible to viewers across the nation. From the very first match at AB Field, through to the Final, we will be there.

“As we count down to another unforgettable summer of cricket – headlined by the fiercest rivalry in world sport between Australia and England, a massive WBBL and BBL season, and a blockbuster multi-format women’s series against India – Seven has once again assembled a world-class commentary team to deliver the soundtrack of summer to all Australians, wherever you are right across the nation,”

– he said.

“With Ricky Ponting at the helm of Seven’s commentary – paired with the man who is fast becoming one of the greatest international cricket analysts, Stuart Broad – alongside, Aaron Finch, Alison Mitchell, Matthew Hayden and David Lloyd – we couldn’t think of a stronger lineup of experts to deliver the greatest summer in recent history on Seven and 7plus Sport.

“Justin Langer was the man at the helm of the Australian team four years ago in the last Ashes on Australian soil, overseeing a 4-0 Australian triumph. He knows what it takes to lead a team to Ashes glory, and this time around he is with us in the commentary box, sharing his insights into what it takes to thrash the England team in Australia. There is nobody better qualified to be behind the microphone for an Ashes Series.

Seven Network Executive Producer – Cricket, Anna Stone, said:

“The Big Bash is summer’s greatest entertainment spectacle – fast, fiery and full of moments you can’t take your eyes off. This season, we’ll bring fans closer than ever to the biggest names and best rivalries in Australian sport, all live and free on Seven and 7plus.

“Our homegrown heroes Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Adam Zampa and Mitch Marsh return for another massive summer of BBL action,”

– she said.

“We also have some of the biggest names in international cricket spending their summer with us in the Big Bash, including Pakistan superstars Shaheen Shah Afridi and Babar Azam.

“We’re proud to continue championing women’s cricket on Seven, and there’s no better showcase than Australia taking on India. It’s a rivalry built on mutual respect and fierce competition – the perfect way to round out a massive Summer of Cricket.

“Our Australian women’s team have just returned from India and will be looking for redemption following the World Cup.

“The series culminates in a Test match, the last women’s Test saw Alana King take a 5fer and Anabel Sutherland become the first woman to score a Test century at the MCG, both adding their names to the honours board. This team continues to pave the way and inspire the next generation of cricket obsessed kids dreaming of one day playing for Australia.

“We are thrilled to welcome back Mitchell Starc and his expertise to Seven’s commentary team, off what is going to be an enormous summer for him and the Australian Men’s cricket team.”