Ashes coverage on TNT Sports branded 'a travesty' and 'poor product' by cricket fans in clunky start to series - with commentators not even in Australia!

England's inauspicious start to the Ashes was matched by TNT Sports, with the broadcaster's coverage branded 'a poor product' and 'travesty'. 

Irritated cricket fans took to social media in their droves to complain, with many noting that some commentators were not even sent to Australia and were saying 'good morning' to each other despite the game taking place in the afternoon Down Under. 

Sky Sports showed little interest in bidding for the jewel in Test cricket's crown, allowing TNT Sports to swoop in but their efforts on the first day of the first match in Perth did not go down well. 

One fan wrote: 'Actually grateful that they've killed my enthusiasm this early. I can go back to pretending the series isn't happening for the next couple of months. Cricket on TNT Sports isn't real, it can't hurt you.

Another added: 'Just inexcusable coverage from TNT. The biggest cricket series in the world and you employ two non-cricket commentators as your main two guys, who aren't even in Australia. Genuinely astonished how they ever thought it would go down well.'

And one poster highlighted a number of issues raised by other supporters, offering a forgiving stance to the pundits themselves while lambasting the production decisions. 

He wrote: 'Through no fault of anyone involved in the actual production, the TNT product is poor. 

'No Aussie voice, crowd noise down, long delay behind the action and limited on the ground insight. 

'Starc's been off the field with a potential injury for two overs and there's been no mention.' 

Some of the presenters - namely Sir Alastair Cook and Becky Ives - are based in Australia, but lead commentators Alastair Eykyn and Rob Hatch - neither of whom have much cricket work under their belts - are back in the UK. 

Scott Young, executive vice-president at TNT's owners Warner Bros Discovery Sports Europe, previously insisted that Eykyn and Hatch are 'huge cricket fans' and that viewers 'won't know' where commentators are during live action. 

There were more light-hearted comments about Sir Alastair Cook's wardrobe choices. 

The former England captain stood out in between his more casual colleagues with an impeccable suit on. 

It led to comments that he 'looks like the kid on work experience who didn't realise it's a more casual office environment'. 

TNT have broadcast the away series' of the Ashes since 2017-18 and Young argues their coverage is an attempt to appeal to a broad demographic of viewers who may not be interested in cricket. 

He argued: 'That's why we're bringing many of our sports broadcasters into the fold. 

'It's about bringing the football, rugby, even fight-sports fanbase, and making them aware of the Ashes as a moment in time. If we can get people who are not normally going to watch cricket for a day or a Test, then that's very much part of the TNT Sports ethos.'