Glenn McGrath, a renowned cricket figure from Australia, has been removed as a commentator by the host broadcaster ABC due to his association with a betting company. Known as one of the finest fast bowlers in history, McGrath has been a familiar presence at the Ashes in recent times.
With 563 wickets in 124 Test matches for Australia, the 55-year-old was a formidable opponent for England in the Ashes series, winning six of them with his national team. Despite being part of BBC’s Test Match Special, McGrath will not be involved as a pundit or commentator for ABC during the upcoming series.
In a statement to The Guardian, ABC announced the mutual decision to part ways with McGrath for the Ashes series. The broadcaster expressed anticipation to collaborate with McGrath in the future and highlighted their excitement for the first Test in Perth led by Jim Maxwell and Corbin Middlemas.
The separation stemmed from McGrath’s upcoming partnership with Bet365, a prominent betting firm. This move mirrors ABC’s previous decision to drop former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson for similar reasons.
McGrath will continue to play a significant role in BBC’s Ashes coverage, including live radio commentary and highlights shows alongside other personalities like Jonathan Agnew, Michael Vaughan, Simon Mann, Phil Tufnell, Alex Hartley, and Jim Maxwell in Australia.
In his characteristic style, McGrath has boldly predicted a 5-0 victory for the home team in the upcoming Ashes series. England’s struggle in recent years, with no series wins since 2015 and no test victories in Australia since 2010-11, supports McGrath’s confident outlook for the Australian team’s success.