The sources said a deal could be completed within the month, but they are coinciding with negotiations between the networks and Cricket Australia, which also wants to secure a next deal before the end of the year.

This masthead wrote in early October that Paramount, the owner of Network Ten, and Nine were in discussions about securing the rights to cricket tournaments. The two players will end up bidding against incumbent providers Seven West Media and Foxtel.

Sources previously said Nine, which is currently broadcasting the T20 World Cup and will air the Ashes, will want to air five-day Test matches. Other sources said Paramount could potentially bid for all Test matches and the Big Bash League, which previously aired on Ten.

Nine boss Mike Sneesby said in February that the television and digital media company could afford to air both tennis and cricket during the summer months. Around the same time, Seven boss James Warburton said he would aggressively bid for to bring the tennis rights back to Seven, which it held for 40 years. Warburton has been unable to do so because Nine has had an exclusive negotiating period.