Ricky Ponting in huge commentary reveal for Sri Lanka - but cricket fans forced into annoying change

Steve Smith's 10,000th run might get bumped from the main channel on Seven for Home and Away.

Ricky Ponting has been confirmed as part of Channel 7's commentary team for the TV coverage of the Test matches against Sri Lanka. But Steve Smith may have to make way for Alf Stewart when he passes his 10,000th Test run next week.

For the first time since 1997, Australian cricket fans will be able to watch our champion men's team play a non-Ashes overseas Test on free-to-air TV after Channel 7 cut a late deal with Sri Lankan cricket authorities to broadcast the much-anticipated series. Seven will show the two Tests from Galle followed by two one-day games in welcome news for cricket tragics without streaming or pay-TV services.

Ricky Ponting and Steve Smith.
Ricky Ponting will lead Channel 7's commentary team as Steve Smith chases his 10,000th Test run against Sri Lanka. Image: Getty

But there is a slight catch. Due to the differing time zones and 7's commitments to its regular programming, fans will have to criss-cross various channels and platforms to view every ball. Seven also have the women's Ashes Test at the MCG (starting on Thursday), meaning there will be plenty of channel changing for the most diehard fans.

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TV guides indicate Seven will telecast the first two hours of play on weekdays before asking viewers in the eastern states to switch to either 7MATE or stream from 7Plus while The Chase Australia, Seven News and Home and Away air on its main channel. Cricket coverage will then return to Seven for the rest of the day's play. From Thursday the women's match will be shown on a mix of Seven and 7TWO.

Steve Smith, pictured here after being left stranded on 9999 Test runs against India.
Steve Smith was left stranded on 9999 Test runs against India. (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)

It’s a minor inconvenience but does mean Smith's 10,000th run – he currently sits on 9999 after falling a single short in the Border-Gavaskar series – could be missed by those relying on Seven's main channel. Instead, viewers may be watching Stewart save Summer Bay from another catastrophe as one of Australia's greatest ever batsman joins an illustrious list of players to have reached the 10,000-run milestone.

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One of those to have completed the feat – former Australia captain Ponting – will head up Seven's day one coverage of the first Test from Sri Lanka, starting on Wednesday. He will be joined by former Test players Trent Copeland and Greg Blewett for out-of-play analysis, while former Australia opener Simon Katich and journalist Adam Collins will be in the commentary box in Galle, alongside a host of Sri Lankan cricket experts.

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Brad Hodge and Jason Richardson will be behind the microphone for the one-day series. Seven Network Director of Sport, Chris Jones, said: "We are ecstatic to add the Australia v Sri Lanka Series to our already glittering summer of cricket on Seven and 7plus Sport, making cricket more accessible for all Australians than ever before.

"Seven will be there when Steve Smith makes his 10,000th Test run – it’s going to be massive." Seven's coverage begins on Wednesday from 3pm.