Fox Sports to broadcast Test series

The Australian television network due to broadcast the four-Test series against India is confident of screening it no matter which Indian company wins the coverage rights.

A spokesman for Fox Sports, the satellite channel owned by Rupert Murdoch, said there had been discussions with other possible providers in the subcontinent to ensure that if the matches were played, they would be shown in Australia.

A battle for the rights is being staged in the Supreme Court in Delhi, which was today due to hear a petition filed by Zee Telefilms over the BCCI's decision to cancel its A$430 million four-year contract to telecast Indian cricket.

Murdoch also controls the ESPN-Star network, which challenged the deal on the grounds that Zee did not have the required experience as a cricket broadcaster.

Both the ICC and Cricket Australia are against playing the series without live television coverage and the BCCI is currently finalising arrangements for another broadcaster to pick up the series.

"Discussions have been held with other parties and no matter who gets it we are in a position to provide coverage here," said Dugald Saunders, a Fox Sports spokesman. "From our point of view it doesn't actually matter who gets the rights over there."

The first Test is due to start in Bangalore on October 6.