Australia cricket legend Glenn McGrath has been removed as a commentator by ABC, the host broadcaster, due to his association with a betting company. Known as one of the finest fast bowlers in history, McGrath has been a familiar face at the Ashes matches in recent times.
The 55-year-old veteran claimed 563 wickets in 124 Test matches for Australia and has been a dominant force against England in the Ashes series. With six Ashes series victories under his belt, McGrath will be in attendance at the opening Test in Perth this Friday.
Although he will continue to be part of the BBC Test Match Special team, McGrath will not serve as a pundit or commentator for ABC. Initially featured in promotional material for ABC’s Ashes coverage, McGrath has now been excluded just before the series commences.
In a statement to The Guardian, ABC explained, “The ABC and Glenn McGrath have mutually agreed not to collaborate for this Ashes series. We anticipate seeing Glenn at the grounds during the series and are open to potential future collaborations. Our esteemed commentary team, led by Jim Maxwell and Corbin Middlemas, is eagerly looking forward to the first test in Perth.”
The decision to drop McGrath stems from his upcoming partnership with the betting company Bet365. ABC, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, had previously taken a similar action with former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.
McGrath will maintain a significant presence in the BBC’s Ashes coverage, which includes live radio commentary and highlight programs. He will be working alongside Jonathan Agnew, Michael Vaughan, Simon Mann, Phil Tufnell, Alex Hartley, and Jim Maxwell in Australia.
In his usual confident manner, McGrath has predicted a 5-0 victory for the home team in the upcoming Ashes series. England has not won an Ashes series since 2015, with two draws and two losses, and has not secured a test victory in Australia since 2010-11.
Expressing his prediction on BBC Radio 5 Live, McGrath stated, “It’s not often that I make predictions, but I have to stick with 5-0. I have great confidence in our team. With Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon performing at their best in their home conditions, it will be a tough challenge. Given England’s track record, it will be intriguing to see if they can secure a test win.”