Look out of the window and you could be forgiven for thinking this isn't the time to think about cricket (unless you are reading this in Australia). But MPs will today criticise English cricket bosses for signing an exclusive deal with Sky that will see all live cricket disappear from free-to-air TV.
The England and Wales Cricket Board were able to do this after the government, and former culture secretary Chris Smith, removed cricket from the A-list of protected sporting events - the so-called "crown jewels" - back in 1998.
Ah, said the House of Commons select committee on culture, media and sport, but this broke a "gentleman's agreement" between Smith and former cricket boss Lord MacLaurin. The problem with gentleman's agreements is they are not worth the paper they are written on. Because they are not written down.
There is an easy solution - stick cricket back on the A-list of protected sporting events and live cricket need never disappear from terrestrial schedules again. But will MPs recommend that? Will they heck. They should put up - or shut up.
