Glenn McGrath, the renowned cricket figure from Australia, has been removed as a commentator by the primary broadcaster ABC due to his association with a betting firm. McGrath, a distinguished former fast bowler with 563 wickets in 124 Test matches for Australia, has been a prominent figure during the Ashes contests in recent times.
Despite his exclusion from ABC’s commentary team, the 55-year-old cricket great, famous for his performances against England in the Ashes, will still be part of the BBC Test Match Special coverage. McGrath, who had initially featured in promotional material for ABC’s series coverage, will not be utilized as a pundit or commentator for the upcoming events.
In response to the decision, ABC stated to the Guardian: “The ABC and Glenn McGrath have mutually agreed to part ways for this Ashes series. We anticipate McGrath’s presence at the grounds during the matches and remain open to collaborating with him in the future. Our esteemed commentary team, led by Jim Maxwell and Corbin Middlemas, is geared up for the first Test in Perth this Friday.”
The move to drop McGrath from ABC’s lineup stems from his upcoming partnership with the major betting company Bet365. This action mirrors a previous incident where ABC had also discontinued ties with former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson for similar reasons.
McGrath will continue to play a significant role in the BBC’s coverage of the Ashes, contributing to live radio commentary and highlights programs alongside other renowned cricket personalities. In a typical McGrath fashion, he has boldly predicted a 5-0 victory for the home team, emphasizing the challenge England faces, having not won a Test in Australia since 2010-11 and an Ashes series since 2015.
For an in-depth preview of the England-Australia Ashes rivalry, you can access the special feature.