The England and Wales Cricket Board is considering ending the ’s exclusive radio hold on England cricket, a move that could open home Test match coverage to rival broadcasters from 2029 and put Test Match Special into a shared-rights era for the first time in decades.

The timing has made the issue land hard with listeners because the current agreement runs until 2028, and the ECB is preparing to go to market next year for the rights cycle that begins in 2029. talkSPORT is among the leading contenders to take part alongside the, raising the possibility that more than one station could carry England home Tests.

An ECB source described the next negotiation as a chance to be “a lot more creative,” adding that the governing body was looking for the best way of “maximising both reach and value.” That points to a break from the long-standing model that has given the exclusive radio rights for all men’s and women’s home internationals, with Test Match Special first airing in 1957 and becoming part of the soundtrack of English cricket.

The shift being discussed is not necessarily a total exit. The report says the broadcaster may still keep cricket coverage even if it loses exclusivity, which would make the change about shared rights rather than a clean handover. That distinction matters, because the ’s reach and the familiarity of Test Match Special are part of why any change is drawing such a strong reaction.

The ECB is also looking at a broadcasting model similar to Australia’s, where multiple broadcasters are allowed to cover the same matches. talkSPORT already has extensive experience covering England’s overseas tours and has broadcast home Test matches internationally since last year, giving it a foothold if the rights are opened up.

For now, the next real milestone is the market process next year. Whether the ECB chooses a shared model or preserves exclusivity for another cycle is still undecided, but the direction of travel is clear: the next deal could redraw who gets to tell the story of England’s home cricket on radio.

Fans reacted quickly online. One wrote, “Ffs..TMS is the best thing on Radio.” Another said, “TalkSport coverage is pretty dire tbh.” A third added, “Will these people never learn?” and another simply posted, “Please no!” The response underlines how much Test Match Special means to listeners, even as the ECB weighs how to widen the audience and increase the value of the rights package.