Ministers have been urged to explore free-to-air options for England’s Test series against India in a bid to avoid a TV blackout. The Government is under pressure to get broadcasters including the BBC and Channel 4 round the table to avert a “national scandal” whereby millions of cricket fans miss out on “one of the most exciting match-ups in years”. The Lib Dems have now demanded that the Government “put heads together” to “hammer out a deal”, potentially involving both free-to-air and paid-for services. Jamie Stone, the party’s culture, media and sport spokesman, said “Bazball” – England’s aggressive style of play under head coach Brendon McCullum – “deserves to be seen by the entire nation”. In a letter to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, the MP said it was a “shame” that last week’s “historic” darts final featuring 16-year-old Luke Littler was kept behind a paywall. A “far worse situation” is developing with cricket, he warned, arguing it would be a “national scandal” if the Test series is not shown on British TV. It will be broadcast on the radio, with TalkSport holding the rights. However, Stone said it was “in nobody’s interest” to make that the only option. “Bazball deserves to be seen by the entire nation, especially younger generations getting into cricket for the first time”, he said. “Stokes and McCullum’s revolutionary playing style has inspired so many to pick up a bat and ball for the first time. The upcoming series against India is being billed as one of the most exciting match-ups in years, yet there is a serious risk nobody will be able to watch it. “It is time the Government stepped in by getting broadcasters and cricket boards around the table to hammer out a deal. There is just a fortnight until the first Test and no plan whatsoever for it to be shown on British television.” Mr Stone said that Test match cricket should ideally be “more available” on free-to-air TV. “I would therefore urge you to include BBC, ITV and Channel 4 in your efforts to ensure the series is televised. With five games in the series, perhaps a shared deal could be viable between a paid-for service,” he wrote. “It is in nobody’s interest to have this series on radio only. There is surely a deal to be had. A culture and sports minister should not be afraid to ruffle feathers to get a deal over the line. “It is time to put heads together and make this happen. A summit with all parties, chaired by a minister, could deliver the breakthrough that is desperately needed now. “The clock is ticking. At this rate, 2024 will be seen as the year history was made in British sport, that millions of hardworking people could never see.” When England last toured India for a Test series, in 2021, a similar situation unfolded and ended in an eleventh-hour bid from Channel 4. The broadcaster was partially motivated by serving a captive audience eager for live sport after the Covid lockdowns. Possible paid-for outlets include Sky Sports and TNT Sports. Sky was the de facto home of all England tours between 1990 and 2017 and would be well placed to step in at short notice, while TNT made inroads into the field during in its previous incarnation as BT Sport.