SELBY MP John Grogan is hoping to bowl out the contract to take Test cricket off terrestrial television screens by launching a new Early Day Motion.

In circumstances befitting a village match, Mr Grogan was today tabling the motion at an afternoon tea reception for supporters of the Save Cricket campaign.

A measure which will be tabled as soon as Parliament goes back into session in early October, the motion will call on the Government to reinstate England's home Test Matches to the list of Category 'A' protected sporting events, which must be offered to terrestrial broadcasters at a "fair and reasonable" price.

With England's bid to grasp The Ashes for the first time in 16 years reaching its final conclusion this week, Mr Grogan said he was urging the Government to reconsider its position.

"I am launching this motion in order to try and ensure that in future such great cricketing contests will be available to the majority of the public through free-to-air television," he said.

"I am strongly urging the Government to reconsider its position and restore the main home Test series to the list of protected events. I am also urging terrestrial broadcasters including BBC Sport to ensure that they bid for the rights when they become available again."

The Government removed cricket from the protected list in 1999 after negotiations with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Matches were still available to watch but the ECB's new three-year deal with Sky Television means there will be no live cricket on terrestrial television until at least 2010, Mr Grogan said.

Updated: 10:31 Wednesday, September 07, 2005