TODAY Show sports presenter Erin Molan’s live cross from the Gabba has turned into a soggy affair after she was soaked by the ground’s automatic sprinkler system.

Ahead of today’s First Test, Molan was preparing to cross to Karl Stefanovic and Sylvia Jeffreys this morning when the sprinkler doused her crew.

They had prepared for the event by covering the sprinkler head with newspaper, but came unstuck when the reporter picked it up to read.

As she went live on-air, Molan was left standing stunned as her planned report went out the window.

“Turns out there’s more of them and they’re on a timer,” a sheepish Molan said.

“We put a newspaper over it to block it because we thought it was going to progressively come along.

“I went to pick up the newspaper, because I’m an investigative journalist, to read it…

“I reckon someone from Channel 7’s up there in the control room just [turning the sprinkler on].”

Molan surveys the damage.

Her planned cross to the TODAY team ended with the panel roaring with laughter.

Molan’s cross fell apart as her notes turned to a sodden mess.

“I’ll be back with some solid sporting news a little later on, maybe some valuable content,” the self-deprecating reporter said.

“We’ll see how we go.”