'Crown Jewels' list gets hostile reception

Cricket's fury was the most intense as Davies recommended home Ashes Tests become listed events. There was also opposition from the Football Association to proposals for all international qualifiers to be listed. Only the terrestrial broadcasters were happy with the outcome of the review which will now be studied by the Government before they decide which recommendations should become law.

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke said: "This report will have a disastrous impact on grassroots funding for every sport. It will be absolutely devastating."

He added: "We would have an income which in 2004 would have been £90million less over four years. That is a staggering amount of money."

The FA also opposed the recommendations regarding international qualifiers.

An FA spokesman said: "The FA has always sought to balance its commitment to secure maximum coverage of the sport for the viewing public with the need to attain a fair commercial value for its rights to help ensure that we are able to continue to fund critical investment into grassroots football.

"To meet both these commitments we believe, as an organisation, we are best-placed to determine how our broadcast rights should be sold."

The report also recommended golf's Open Championship, Wimbledon and the Rugby World Cup be added to the list.

Three events were suggested to be delisted, with racing's Epsom Derby, rugby league's Challenge Cup final and the Winter Olympic Games among those now vulnerable.

The Jockey Club, which had branded the list "an anachronism", took issue with the view that the Epsom Derby is no longer an "event of special national resonance". Simon Bazalgette, group chief executive of the Jockey Club, said: "It is clear to us that the Investec Derby remains an event of national resonance, no matter what the Panel says."