Laura Robson has reportedly been lined up to present this winter’s Ashes series by TNT Sports despite having no prior experience of covering cricket.
Since her retirement from tennis in 2022 at the age of 28, the former British No 1 has enjoyed a successful career as a presenter for both TNT and Sky Sports.
She’s fronted coverage of the US Open and appeared as a pundit at various tennis tournaments across the globe.
But she’s now rumoured to be making a surprising switch to a sport she’s never covered before.
Having earned the trust of producers, TNT Sports have offered her the chance to front their coverage of England’s trip Down Under for a five-match series against the Aussies.
Despite Sky Sports owning the rights to air England[1]‘s home fixtures, including this summer’s draw to India[2], TNT last month won the rights to show the Australian cricketing summer on a one-season deal.
Presenter Laura Robson has been lined up by TNT Sports to front their coverage of the Ashes this winter
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The Ashes begins in Perth on November 21, with England trying to win the earn Down Under for the first time since 2011
They’re now looking to sure up their team of presenters and pundits for the winter series, with former England stars Alastair Cook and Steven Finn two of the candidates in the running for punditry roles, according to The Guardian[3].
Robson has strong links to Australia having been born in Melbourne and is expected to lead the broadcaster’s on-ground coverage.
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It however remains to be seen whether any co-presenters will be travelling Down Under to join her, with TNT also said to be considering calling on some of their regular commentators from other sports.
Brendon McCullum and his England side will be looking to win the earn Down Under for the first time since 2011 when the series begins in Perth on November 21.
Despite England heading into the clash as the third-ranked Test Match side in the world, behind South Africa in second and the Aussies in first, there’s a genuine optimism amongst fans that the Three Lions could return to Britain as victors.
England’s highest ever run-scorer Joe Root looked ahead to the series in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Sport, saying: ‘Clearly, the last two tours there have been loads of other things to contend with. I was captain. There was Covid. There was the whole Ben Stokes incident, the time before that. There was a Jonny Bairstow headbutt incident as well. So there was a lot of distractions.
‘This time, I just want to go and enjoy the tour for what it is. It’s a beautiful country. It’s a great place to go and play cricket. Clearly, it’s going to be hostile, it’s going to be everything you’d expect and want from an away Ashes series. It’s something you’ve got to relish and I want to enjoy being a part of it and I know that if I put my best performances in, then everything else will look after itself.
‘But you’ve got to immerse yourself in the situation. That’s something I’ve done well recently, just playing the game right in front of me. Using my experience and obviously, having played there a couple of times before, going there with 150-odd Test matches under my belt, I feel like I couldn’t be more ready for it.’