Laura Robson reportedly lined up to front TNT Sports' Ashes coverage despite no prior cricket experience

Laura Robson has reportedly been lined up to present TNT Sports' coverage of the upcoming Ashes series in Australia despite having no prior experience covering cricket, according to a Daily Mail report.

Robson, who retired from professional tennis in 2022 at the age of 28 and has since established a broadcasting career with TNT and Sky Sports, is said to be in line to lead on-ground presentation for TNT's one-season broadcast of the Australian summer. The five-Test series begins in Perth on Nov. 21.

TNT Sports secured rights last month to show the Australian cricketing summer on a one-season deal. Sky Sports retains rights to England's home fixtures, including this summer's series against India. The report says TNT has been assembling its presenting and pundit teams for the winter tour and has offered Robson the chance to front coverage in Australia because she has earned the trust of producers through her recent broadcasting work.

The Guardian and other outlets have named former England players Alastair Cook and Steven Finn among candidates being considered for punditry roles. TNT has also been reported to be weighing whether some regular commentators from other sports might be called on to contribute during the tour. It was not immediately clear which co-presenters or pundits would travel to Australia alongside the lead presenter.

Robson has fronted coverage of major tennis events, including the US Open, and has appeared as a pundit at tournaments worldwide. She was born in Melbourne, which the report said could strengthen her suitability for on-ground presentation of an Ashes series staged in Australia.

England travel to Australia having not won an Ashes series on Australian soil since 2011. The touring party will meet a strong Australian side; the International Cricket Council Test rankings listed England third behind South Africa and Australia at the time of the report. England captain and the country's leading Test run-scorer, Joe Root, spoke to Daily Mail Sport ahead of the tour, saying he wanted to focus on enjoying the series and performing to his best ability.

"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," Root said. "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."

TNT and Robson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The report described the move as a surprise given Robson's lack of a cricketing broadcast background, but noted the broadcaster's confidence in her presenting abilities and her connection to Australia.

Details of the full TNT presenting and pundit team for the Ashes are expected to be confirmed in the weeks ahead as preparations continue for the winter tour.