Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) is all set to broadcast the biggest and the historic Test series, The Ashes 2021. The series will commence on December 8, 2021.
Sony has made it easy for fans across India to experience the Test series, as the channel is set to provide the broadcast in four different languages for the first time. The most awaited series will be live telecasted on SONY SIX (English), SONY TEN 3 (Hindi) & SONY TEN 4 (Tamil & Telugu) channels. It will also be live-streamed on its OTT platform Sony LIV.
Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer, Distribution and Head – Sports Business, Sony Pictures Networks India, “The Ashes is the platinum standard of Test cricket and has raised the bar of Test cricket over the years. Sony Sports channels will broadcast the series in four languages for the first time, English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, so that cricket enthusiasts all over the country can enjoy the matches in their language of choice. With a galaxy of superstars on both Test Teams, the much-anticipated series promises to be a tight-knit contest and has garnered a brilliant response from the advertisers as well.”
The series has also welcomed various sponsors that include Byju’s, Bosch Appliances, Policy Bazaar, Signature, Elaichi, Dafa News and several others on board.
Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) has made sure that the historic series reaches a mass audience and give them a valuable experience. With four different languages greeted for the first time, the channel has also fetched in some experienced commentators to cover the series. Vivek Razdan, Saba Karim, Atish Thukral, Raman Bhanot, Snehal Pradhan and Reetinder Singh Sodhi will be covering the Hindi broadcast. The Tamil commentary will include the presence of former cricketers like Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, Woorkeri Raman, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, T. Arasu, S. Seshadri, Arun Venugopal, Aarti Sankaran and Sunil Viswanathan. Keerthi Viswanadha, Prem Sagar, Vijay Mahavadi, Sudheer Mahavadi, RJ Hemant, Venkatapathy Raju, C Venkatesh, Vijay Mahavadi and Sandeep Kumar will be on the Telugu commentary panel.
The Ashes 2021 will begin on December 8 in Brisbane at 5:30 am. The second Test match will be played at Adelaide from December 16. The second Test will begin at 9:30 am. The boxing day Test match will be on December 26, it will be held at the biggest stadium in the world, The Melbourne Cricket Ground at 5:00 am. The fourth Test is at 5 in the morning at SCG on January 5 and at last, the final Test match will be held at Perth from January 14 at 8:00 am. All timings are according to Indian Standard Time.
Australia is leading the series in the head-to-head competition with 33 wins, while England has 32 wins so far. It will be intriguing to watch whether Australia will cruise away with the Ashes win or England will manage to make it even on away soil. The return of Ben Stokes and the experience of James Anderson will be a challenge for the home side who are currently under a scanner after the recent Tim Paine controversy. Australia will be led by Pat Cummins along with vice-captain Steve Smith. With a strong bowling lineup, Aussies will be ready to welcome the English side.