Ashes Cricket

As this Thursday marks the start of the Ashes series, and also the first time in a few years an England cricket match has been covered on BBC Television (albeit only highlights) does anyone know what the presentation side of things will be like yet, as I have a couple of questions:

* Will they use "Soul Limbo" as the theme (I know it's already used on TMS on BBC Radio, but surely that won't stop them using it as the theme to the TV highlights coverage)?

* Will they be using their own BBC Sport style graphics, or will the highlights be produced by Sunset & Vine (who did actually produce a match for BBC Scotland using Channel 4 style graphics last year) and therefore be similar in style to Channel 4's graphics, or will they just be extremely lazy and use the Sky Sports/host broadcaster graphics?

Any other presentation related discussion or discussion about the coverage of the Ashes series is welcome in this thread.

There was an article in a newspaper (The Telegraph I think) which said that Soul Limbo will indeed be used for the BBC highlights coverage, and also there was a post here where someone said they saw a promo which used Soul Limbo.

it will be interesting to see for sure, I think Sky will take their crew and graphics over there, I'll have a look at the Aussie coverage and see what they are doing.

Yes to Soul Limbo.

BBC Sport will be using their graphics on the interactive scorecard/Test Match Special service - not sure about the highlights though, I think they are taking C9's.

BBC highlights run from 10pm on BBCi, and air around 11.20pm on BBC2.

Sky, along with overnight live action, seem to have highlights in two and a half hour slots in the morning, afternoon and evening.

According to this page on the Manchester Evening News website, Richie Benaud will be part of the team for the BBC highlights programme... so it looks like they may be either taking Channel 9 commentary or having him as a guest in a pre-highlights talk... So much for his retirement from English commentating then!

Unfortunately, I gather Tony Greig is another that the BBC intend using.

On that basis alone, I'm glad I'll be watching it on Sky.

Watch it on SKY! You know its the only place worth watching!

Go frak yourself.

Well I've been mooting for Sky for the last 12 months, but (being 15) my family haven't got it and will refuse to get it...

BBC for me - will turn on to the interactive on Freeview in the morning to see what it looks like.

well if you can afford it

As good to see the Cricket back on the BBC, am I right in thinking that the Highlights are being broadcast the best part of 18-24 hours after the intial Test match? Bit strange I think...

Die hard Cricket fans would rather watch it on Sky anyway, AIUI no Terrestrial broadcaster has covered the Winter tour overnight Live. Having it on Sky seems to stop interruptions full stop, such as random 30 second ad-breaks on Channel 4, coverage stopping for Hollyoaks, or in the case of when it was on the BBC, being shifted round the Daytime schedule and taking regular breaks for the News.

It's down to Sky - they won't let them screen highlights until 10pm.