The Seven Network has today announced an exceptional line-up of new signings to its 7Cricket commentary team for the upcoming Summer of Cricket, live and free on Seven and — for the first time — streaming on 7plus.

Bringing together a group of the most respected and experienced voices in the game, Aaron Finch leads the impressive roster of new recruits, joining Seven as an expert commentator for the highly anticipated Test series against India and the 2024-25 Big Bash League (BBL) season.

With his deep understanding of the game, charismatic personality and vast experience, Finch is set to provide fans with unique insights and analysis, beginning with the first two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth and Adelaide.

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Arguably Australia’s best T20 player, Finch will be right at home on Seven’s unbeatable BBL coverage, alongside cricket’s No.1 commentary team, headlined by the incomparable Ricky Ponting.

Finch will also host this Sunday’s WBBL and BBL Draft alongside Seven’s Lisa Sthalekar and Andy Maher, live and free on 7mate, 7two and 7plus from 3pm AEST.

“I can’t wait, especially with how big this summer is going to be — it’s great to be a part of it,” Finch said.

“The first couple of Test matches will be amazing and set the tone for the whole summer.

“I’ve had a lot of great experience commentating overseas the last two years, it’s something I love doing and I’m really pumped to do it with Seven.”

In a coup for Australian cricket fans, the most authoritative voice in world cricket Ponting continues his expert commentary role with Seven, signing a long-term deal with the network ahead of the 2024-25 summer.

Ponting will again be a central figure across the network’s Test and BBL coverage and will kickstart the BBL season on opening night, setting the competition off to a thrilling start.

“I’m so thrilled to have locked in with my 7Cricket family long term,” he said ahead of a fiery Summer of Cricket on Seven.

“I love the team we work with on and off air and can’t wait for an epic Test Series against India and another massive season of Big Bash.”

Adding to the excitement of one of the greatest Test rivalries ever seen, iconic former Indian captain and batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar will join Seven’s coverage of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Adored for his articulate commentary and deep understanding of the game, Gavaskar will return to Seven’s coverage for all five Test matches within the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series, as the travelling side look to clinch another victory over Australia following their historic upset in 2020-21.

Adding to Seven’s new signings, current Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc will join the commentary team for Seven’s Women’s Ashes coverage for white-ball matches, starting at North Sydney Oval on January 12 on Seven and 7plus.

Rounding out Seven’s new signings is Rachel Khawaja, who will join Seven’s Australia v India Test series coverage, connecting viewers with the people closest to the Australian cricket teams’ players — their families.

“Ahead of the first Australian Summer where everyone can stream the cricket for free, we are excited to welcome so many new faces to our 7Cricket family, including the BBL’s most popular player, Aaron Finch” Seven Network Director of Sport, Chris Jones, said.

“Having worked with Finchy across our coverage in recent seasons, we know he’s a natural commentator who can take us behind the play like nobody else. As a captain, he saw ahead of the game and will bring that to his commentary across our Test and BBL coverage this season.

“Ricky Ponting is in our opinion, the world’s best expert commentator, and we are so thrilled to continue to share his unrivalled insights with Australian viewers. He is the captain of our commentary team and has led from the front both on and off air since his arrival at Seven.

“The only place you can hear Ricky across the summer is on Seven and for the very first time, on 7plus and it’s an honour for our 7Cricket team to have Ricky commit to us long.”

Seven’s match coverage begins on September 19 and runs all the way through to the Big Bash final on January 27.

“We are delighted to welcome back Sunil Gavaskar to Seven’s cricket coverage, where he will provide expert commentary during the series named in his honour,” Head of Cricket Joel Starcevic said.

“Never afraid to speak his mind, not only is Sunil a highly respected voice in world cricket, but he is also cricket royalty.

“In a summer where we could see Steve Smith become just the 15th cricketer to score 10,000 Test runs, we will have Sunil – the first player to ever achieve that milestone – behind the mic for Seven. It doesn’t get any better than that.

“This summer also has the potential to be the biggest ever for women’s international cricket, and it’s only fitting for us to have a modern-day superstar like Mitch Starc as part of our 7Cricket commentary team to add to the excitement of the Women’s Ashes.

“Adding Rachel Khawaja to the mix further allows us to connect viewers at home to the families and friends of our adored Australian players. We cannot wait to see her deliver all the colour and excitement from the stadium during the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

“With world-class cricket from September to January there is absolutely nowhere else you’d rather be this summer than right here on Seven and, for the first time, 7plus.”