TNT Sports' Ashes coverage reached a new low after commentators mistakenly reacted live to a replay of a run-out during the fifth Test between Australia and England in Sydney.

Jamie Smith had been run out by Marnus Labuschagne as England lost their sixth wicket in the afternoon session, bringing captain Ben Stokes to the crease.

However, when TNT later aired highlights of Smith’s dismissal, the commentary team appeared to believe the footage was live, wrongly telling viewers that Stokes had also been run out.

Stokes had faced just three deliveries when commentator Rob Hatch exclaimed: 'It's happening again it's happening again! Stokes goes, two run outs in two overs, England are imploding!'

Another commentator quickly followed with: 'Well thankfully someone's looking out the window of the box, and it's Alastair Cook!'

There was then an awkward silence in the commentary box before Cook clarified the situation, saying: 'Good news for people who are waking up (England) are six wickets down.  

'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!'

The error did not go unnoticed by viewers, who quickly took to social media to mock what they dubbed a 'ghost' run-out.

One fan wrote on X: 'I have not watched a lot live of the Ashes coverage but seen criticism of TNT. Just watched the commentary team believe that a replay of an earlier run out was live and someone else had been run out. Very amateur!'

Another added: 'Oh my days, not TNT almost giving a heart attack. Replay of the Smith run out but the commentator thought it was live and Stokes was run out (sic).' 

Carrying an injury, Stokes was caught by Australia’s Steve Smith almost immediately afterwards after managing just a single run, leaving England 267-7, as the fourth day drew towards its conclusion.

The TNT commentary added: 'It was a case of how long he could last. He was still there and he's gone now.'

TNT's lead commentators Alastair Ekykn and Hatch boast strong reputations covering rugby and cycling respectively, but their next-to-no cricket experience and the fact that they were due to be based in the UK and on the other side of the world from some of the other presenters - namely Sir Alastair Cook and Becky Ives who have fronted the coverage throughout - was criticised at the beginning the series.

Beyond this latest blunder, droves of fans complained in the first Test about commentators saying 'good morning' to each other despite the game taking place in the afternoon Down Under.

Further issues were highlighted by another X user, who 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.'

TNT have broadcast the away series' of the Ashes since 2017-18 and Scott Young, executive vice-president at TNT's owners Warner Bros Discovery Sports Europe, argued their coverage is an attempt to appeal to a broad demographic of viewers who may not be interested in cricket.

'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,' he added.

But many fans, who pay £30.99 a month for their subscription to the service, have opted to switch off instead.