Fox adds Healys, Perry to commentary team

Fox Sports have added three more voices to their cricket commentary team for the coming summer, with former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy and current Australian stars Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy all signing on.

The subscription television network confirmed Healy, a 119-Test player and former Channel Nine commentator; his niece Alyssa, who currently stands behind the stumps for the Australian Women’s Cricket Team; and her teammate Perry – the world’s No.1 ranked allrounder – will be part of their coverage this season.

The trio join the likes of Shane Warne, Mel Jones, Adam Gilchrist, Isa Guha, Mark Waugh, Allan Border, Mike Hussey and Michael Vaughan behind the microphone.

Fox Sports will broadcast every international men's and women's match as well both Big Bash Leagues as part of a new $1.182 billion broadcast deal which has also seen Channel Seven take over free-to-air rights from the Nine and Ten networks.

“I’m very happy to be joining Fox Sports in what is a very exciting time for cricket in this country,” Ian Healy said.

“Fox Cricket is going to give the viewer at home exactly what they want and deliver a level of coverage they’ve never seen before, I feel lucky to be part of it”.

Meanwhile, Alyssa Healy might find herself in the position where she's commenting on husband Mitchell Starc's performances, but said she wouldn't be afraid to offer her opinion.

“It’ll be interesting if that happens,” Healy told News Ltd. “I’m obviously not a tall left-arm fast bowler so I can’t give him too many hints, but I do watch a lot of cricket and watch what works for him.

“I’m sure he wouldn’t like me giving him opinions from the commentary box.”

Before Healy and Perry appear behind the microphone, they’ll be in the thick of the action on the field when Australia meet New Zealand in the three-match Commonwealth Bank T20 INTL series starting September 29 at North Sydney Oval.

That series will be screened live on both Foxtel and Channel Seven, with Healy looking forward to what looms as the biggest summer yet for Australia’s elite female players.

"There's a huge summer both internationally and domestically that I really want to be a part of," Healy said after smashing a century in a NSW warm-up match last week.

"(The first T20I at) North Sydney Oval is the carrot dangling there at the moment and it's something everyone wants to be a part of.

"It'll be a big series against the Kiwis and then leading into the T20 World Cup, it's really exciting."

Earlier this month, Fox Sports announced Australia's one-day series against South Africa would create national broadcasting history, with the opening match to mark the first live sport broadcast in 4K resolution.

Foxtel will launch its dedicated 4K channel in October, but the showpiece launch will be the broadcast of the November 4 ODI at Perth Stadium.