Glenn McGrath, the renowned Australian cricket icon, has been removed from his role as a commentator by the primary broadcaster ABC due to his association with a betting firm. With a remarkable record of 563 wickets in 124 Test matches for Australia, McGrath has been a dominant force against England in the Ashes series, winning six Ashes titles with the Australian team. Despite still contributing to the BBC Test Match Special, McGrath will no longer serve as a pundit and commentator for ABC during the upcoming Ashes series.
In response to the decision, ABC announced that they have mutually decided to part ways with McGrath for this season, citing his impending partnership with Bet365 as the reason for the separation. This move mirrors a previous instance where ABC terminated former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson’s contract for a similar reason.
Looking ahead, McGrath will play a significant role in the BBC’s Ashes coverage, featuring in live radio commentary and highlight programs alongside notable personalities such as Jonathan Agnew, Michael Vaughan, Simon Mann, Phil Tufnell, Alex Hartley, and Jim Maxwell. In a classic McGrath style, he confidently predicts a 5-0 victory for the home team, emphasizing the challenging task ahead for England given Australia’s formidable bowling lineup and their historical struggles in Australian conditions.