Indian tour coverage makes for busy television month

October just got tougher for sports widows in New Zealand.

Having realised with the Rugby World Cup being played in Australia in October-November, in prime time viewing slots in New Zealand, and with the national provincial rugby championship continuing for much of October, it was already a tough month, but they are now being hit from another direction.

SKY Television have announced that they are going to have full coverage of New Zealand's tour of India, two Tests and the tri-series which also involves Australia, it looks like being a bleak month around the house and in the gardens of New Zealand.

SKY's cricket spokesman Martin Crowe said today that it was most likely Ian Smith would be New Zealand's representative on the commentary team for the coverage.

No word has yet been received on whether the Pakistan leg of the tour, involving five one-day internationals will be covered on television in New Zealand.