Aussie fans were forced to choose between Mitchell Starc and Alyssa Healy after a new move

The Seven Network's new deal to broadcast Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka is undoubtedly a win for cricket fans across the country. But it also creates a scheduling conflict for Australian power couple Mitchell Starc and Alyssa Healy and a dilemma for fans hoping to see both players star for the men's and women's national teams in the upcoming Tests.

Seven announced on Friday it had acquired the rights to the Aussie men's Test tour of Sri Lanka, less than two weeks before the first match kicks off on January 29. It came on the same day Healy's side recorded a third straight ODI win against England. to take a stranglehold on the Ashes series, thanks Ash Gardner's stunning first century and Alana King's five-wicket haul.

Yahoo Sport Australia previously reported that Australian fans who don't have a Foxtel/Kayo subscription should hold out 320 waiting to see their male heroes on TVafter the completion of the Border-Gavaskar series against India. But free-to-air rights holder Seven came to the rescue and will broadcast the entire two-Test series against Sri Lanka via their main TV stations and on the 7plus app. Channel 7's viewing figures for the fourth and fifth Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series surpassed previous figures, while Fox Cricket also saw huge increases, making the move somewhat of a no-brainer for the network.

But the exciting development will also force fans to make a tough choice between watching Healy lead the Aussie women in their daytime Ashes Test against England at the MCG, or tuning in to watch Starc's troops attempt to win another Test series away from win house. Sri Lanka are five and a half hours behind Australia (AEDT) and the men's Test starts on January 29, while the women's Ashes Test match starts the next day.

Starc said he was delighted to see the Sri Lanka series would be on free-to-air television, but flagged the clash between the two national sides, while speaking to Seven during Australia's third consecutive ODI win in the Women's Ashes. “Yeah, it's great, it's been such a great summer so far,” Starc said. “I think between the Border-Gavaskar series, the BBL and of course the Ashes, it has been phenomenal to see the crowds, the people who have turned up. The eyes on the screens have been phenomenal, so to see the Sri Lankan series to appear on Channel Seven is great. I mean, that first Test is happening at the same time as the women's Ashes Test, so you're spoiled for choice on Channel Seven.”

Mitchell Starc jokes about clashing with wife Alyssa Healy

Starc joked that the clash between his wife Healy's Ashes showdown and the men's Test in Sri Lanka will go in his favor when Australia are batting in Galle and he is in the stands. “Well, it's good for me because when we're batting, I can turn it on and see what's going on in the (women's) Test match, so I'm looking forward to it,” Starc said. “But no, some big Test matches there. I would love to see Australia dominate the Pink Ball Test in Melbourne and for us it's trying to win another series away from home.”

Seven's new deal is a huge win for many Australian cricket fans who risked being plunged into a television black hole for the two Tests and two ODIs in Sri Lanka after no network initially acquired the rights. Additionally, June's World Test Championship clash with South Africa at Lord's will currently only be accessible in Australia on Prime Amazon.

RELATED:

And there is currently no broadcast deal in place for the three-Test tour to the West Indies in June/July, Australia's first visit to the Caribbean in a decade. Only season ticket providers are likely to compete for the rights as matches are played in the dead of the Australian evening. It meant Australian cricket fans had to wait 320 days for free-to-air television between the end of the India series and the start of the Ashes in November until Seven's late intervention.

with AAP