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Why is the cricket on ESPN? How to watch Australia's tour of West Indies

Tom Naghten

Why is the cricket on ESPN? How to watch Australia's tour of West Indies image

(getty)

Australia heads to the West Indies for a three-match Test series, set to begin at midnight AEST on Thursday, June 26.

It's the first time the Aussies have headed to the Caribbean for a red-ball tour since a two-match swing back in 2015.

Coming off a loss to South Africa in the World Test Championship final earlier this month, a host of players look set to be given an opportunity to prove themselves as the old guard continue to be phased out ahead of the home Ashes in the summer.

MORE: Labuschagne axed for first Test

In addition to a potential new-look side, fans watching at home will also have to get used to a new look, with the series set to be broadcast live and exclusively on ESPN.

Here's what you need to know:

Why is Australia's tour of the West Indies on ESPN?

This series marks the first time an Australian cricket tour will be broadcast on ESPN in Australia.

Earlier this month, a Sydney Morning Herald report revealed that ESPN had outbid domestic free-to-air network Seven for the rights to the series.

That came after Foxtel, which manages the Fox Cricket channel, cooled their interest in international cricket tours amid its sale to global streaming giant DAZN.

Watching along with Australian and New Zealand viewers on ESPN will be former Australian cricketers Greg Blewett and Brad Haddin, the latter of which played in the last Test tour of the Caribbean, as well as West Indies greats Ian Bishop and Daren Ganga.

How to watch Australia's tour of the West Indies on ESPN

ESPN channels are widely available in the region across several platforms.

Aussie fans wishing to watch the cricket can tune into ESPN on Foxtel, Disney+, Kayo and Fetch TV, while in New Zealand, the action will be available on Sky NZ and Sky Sports Now. 

WATCH: Australia's tour of the West Indies, live on Kayo

Australia's tour of the West Indies

First Test:

Bridgetown, Barbados

June 26-30, 12am AEST

Second Test:

St George's, Grenada

July 4-8, 12am AEST

Third Test (D/N):

Kingston, Jamaica

July 13-17, 4.30am AEST

Australia's tour of West Indies squads

West Indies: Roston Chase (c), Jomel Warrican (vc), Kevlon Anderson, Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Mikyle Louis, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.