ECB can afford Ashes return to terrestrial television

It seems to be in some people's vested interests to make the debate about the Ashes returning to terrestrial television a complicated one, writes Scyld Berry in the Daily Telegraph. There are only two basic principles involved – and pretty simple they are too.

Moments of national resonance like Botham's 149 not out, or the whole Ashes series of 2005, have to be on live television and free for the sport's well-being. Edited highlights of Hamlet won't persuade anyone to become a prince. The second principle is that English cricket can afford to have home Ashes series on free-to-air, even if it costs the projected £30 million a year.