BT Sport fly Gower to Australia to commentate on Ashes while Vaughan is on air

David Gower will commentate on the Ashes for BT Sport during stints where Michael Vaughan is on air for Fox Sports during the final three Test matches

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England rue missed chances on first day of second Test

BT Sport will fly David Gower to Australia to commentate on the final three Ashes Tests.

The broadcaster has been taking commentary from Fox Sports in Australia alongside analysis in their studio in London from the likes of Alastair Cook, Steve Harmison and Matt Prior during the first two Tests.

BT were left with a predicament to navigate when it emerged that Michael Vaughan, who is contracted to Fox, had been accused of making racially discriminatory marks during his time as a player at Yorkshire.

Azeem Rafiq accused Vaughan of saying “there’s too many of you lot, we need to do something about that” in reference to him and three other players of Asian heritage at the club during a T20 match in 2009.

Vaughan strenuously denies the accusation, but BT have opted not to air Vaughan’s commentary while an investigation into the claims is ongoing.

The 47-year-old has been absent from the first two Test matches after a positive Covid Test delayed his flight to Australia.

He is currently undergoing a period of self-isolation Down Under and will be on commentary for the final three Tests.

To ensure Vaughan’s voice isn’t heard by British viewers, BT have taken the decision to fly Gower to Australia this weekend for stints of commentary which involve Vaughan.

Gower’s words will be complemented by punditry from the studio in London.x

The 64-year-old, a veteran of 117 Tests for England, was a presenter and commentator for Sky Sports for 25 years before leaving in 2019 alongside Sir Ian Botham after their contracts were not renewed.

England are 1-0 down in the five-match series and endured a chastening first two days of the second Test in Adelaide.

Gower’s commentary stint will start in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, before the series moves on to Sydney and Hobart.

Hobart will host an Ashes Test for the first time after the fifth match was moved from Perth due to Covid regulations in Western Australia.