Australian Cricket Association astonished by reports of court action against Seven

Cricket Australia CA is astonished by media reports claiming the Seven Network is starting legal proceedings against the organisation in an attempt to terminate its $450 million TV rights deal.

News Corporation publications reported that the network had launched a federal court action against CA, claiming multiple quality and standard breaches have been made by the governing body during its six-year rights deal.

Seven has broadcast Test cricket since 2018 in Australia, women's internationals, as well as BBL and WBBL, when it secured the rights from CA's long-term free-to air partner, the Nine Network.

The network is pleased with its broadcasts of Test cricket but unhappy with the drastic slipping of standards of the BBL.

CA has responded by claiming its last two cricket seasons have been successful despite the enormous challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

CA is astonished that Seven has brought this unwarranted action that will be strenuously defended, a CA statement read.

CA remains extremely proud of the efforts of the Australian cricket family, including players, match officials, sponsors, stadium operators, host governments, staff and volunteers whose hard work, dedication and expertise allowed us to deliver two exceptional cricket seasons in unprecedented circumstances. The Federal Court paperwork was first filed by Seven against CA in 2020.

Seven West Media Chief Executive James Warburton once declared that CA was the most incompetent administration he had worked with.

CA has tried to revive the BBL in a bid to take the Twenty 20 competition back to its glory days.

The ownership structure of clubs remains a major issue in the BBL, with both Cricket NSW and Queensland Cricket backing a private ownership move this week.