The television coverage of the Ashes series encountered a moment of pure farce on the fourth day of the fifth Test in Sydney, as broadcasters TNT Sports suffered a significant on-air blunder.
The On-Air Mix-Up
During the afternoon session, England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was legitimately run out by Australia's Marnus Labuschagne, bringing captain Ben Stokes to the crease. Later, as TNT aired highlights of that dismissal, the commentary team based in London mistakenly believed the replay footage was a live event.
With Stokes having faced just three deliveries, commentator Rob Hatch dramatically exclaimed: 'It's happening again it's happening again! Stokes goes, two run outs in two overs, England are imploding!' Another voice quickly chimed in, suggesting former England captain Alastair Cook was 'looking out the window of the box' to see the action.
Awkward Silence and Swift Correction
An awkward silence then descended upon the commentary box before Cook intervened to clarify the situation. Cook pointed out that England were in fact six wickets down, not seven, and assured viewers that Stokes was still at the crease. He light-heartedly added, 'Rob was giving them seven, but we'll forgive you, we're not used to four days. If you were dozing you've woken up now, Rob. Stokes is still there it's fine!'
Viewer Reaction and Ironic Twist
The error did not escape the attention of viewers, who swiftly took to social media to mock what was dubbed a 'ghost' run-out. One fan on X criticised the coverage as 'very amateur', while another labelled the incident 'shambolic', noting the team couldn't distinguish a replay from live play despite being in a London studio.
In an ironic twist of fate, the injured Ben Stokes was caught by Steve Smith almost immediately after the commentary gaffe, as the day drew towards its conclusion. A third viewer posted: 'Oh my days, not TNT almost giving a heart attack... But well, Stokes out now. Caught in the slips.'
The incident marks an embarrassing low for the broadcast coverage of a highly prestigious series, highlighting the potential pitfalls of remote commentary and fast-paced live sports production.
