English broadcaster Alison Mitchell will head the Seven Network’s cricket coverage alongside Tim Lane, James Brayshaw and Mel McLaughlin, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Mitchell, Lane and Brayshaw were announced as the station’s ball-by-commentators on Tuesday as Seven, after beating the Nine Network for the rights, prepares for a summer that will see them broadcast Test cricket, the Big Bash League and key women’s fixtures.

The popular McLaughlin will host the coverage, alongside Brayshaw, with appearances from broadcasting legend McAvaney during the Melbourne and Sydney Tests.

But it was Mitchell’s appointment that Seven were keen to promote on Tuesday, with the Brit a regular voice on ABC Grandstand in previous Australian summers.

“I’m tremendously excited to be joining Seven in a new era for Australian cricket coverage,” Mitchell said on Tuesday.

“Test cricket holds a very special place in the hearts of the Australian public and it will be a privilege to take a lead role in bringing the action into people’s homes.

“I’m relishing the opportunity to join up with Ricky Ponting, Damien Fleming and Michael Slater, having most recently worked alongside them on the UK’s coverage of the last Ashes series.

“I have spent the last four seasons working on the Australian cricket scene during the English winter, so take up this role with Seven is an absolute thrill and a honour.”

Mitchell has also worked with the BBC and BT Sport in the United Kingdom.

Tim Lane is an experienced broadcaster across a range of sports but has called cricket for the ABC and, more recently, Macquarie Sport.

Brayshaw also has extensive cricket-related experience behind the microphone, calling international and domestic fixtures during a long stint with the Nine Network.

The callers and hosts will be joined by a star-studded panel of experts, headed by Australia’s highest run-scorer, Ricky Ponting.

Ponting proved the star of Network Ten’s Big Bash League coverage in recent years and was Seven’s trump card signing.

Ponting was inducted into Australian cricket’s Hall of Fame earlier this year. Photo: Getty

Damien Fleming, Michael Slater and Glenn McGrath will also add their expertise, as previously announced.

Seven confirmed other voices that will feature in its coverage on Tuesday, with former Australia players Greg Blewett, Simon Katich, Jason Gillespie, Brad Hodge and Lisa Sthalekar to appear through the summer.

Abbey Gelmi, a presenter on Fox Sports News, will host on Seven’s coverage as well.

“We are looking forward to the summer of cricket enormously,” Seven’s head of cricket, Dave Barham said.

Australia plays four Tests against India and two against Sri Lanka in December, January and February.

But the team’s first fixtures will be a series of limited-overs clashes against South Africa and India, all to be screened exclusively on Fox Sports in November.