HOBART, Nov 16: Global news agencies ended a boycott of Australian cricket on Friday after striking an agreement with the sport’s governing body that allows their photographers and reporters to cover matches.

The agencies began immediate coverage of the second Test against Sri Lanka, which started here on Friday, in which Muttiah Muralitharan has the chance to overtake Shane Warne’s Test wicket world record.

The agencies, including Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Associated Press and Getty Images, had suspended all coverage of the 2007-08 season due to a dispute over restrictions imposed on media coverage.

The standoff, which blacked out agency coverage of last week’s Test against Sri Lanka in Brisbane, would be lifted immediately, the agencies said in a statement issued by a coalition of media groups opposed to the restrictions.

“The News Media Coalition has reached an agreement in its talks with Cricket Australia regarding news coverage during the current season,” they said.

AFP chairman Pierre Louette hailed the breakthrough. “We are very pleased that we have been able to find a common position that will benefit millions of cricket fans around the world,” he said.—AFP