Covid restrictions will see Glenn McGrath miss Jane McGrath Foundation Day at the SCG
The Pink Test, world cricket’s most-recognised charity commitment, will be a very different affair in 2021 writes Phil Rothfield.
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Cricket legend Glenn McGrath will miss Australian sport’s biggest charity day, honouring his late wife Jane, at the Pink Test match at the SCG in January.
The champion fast bowler is in India as a commentator for Sony and will not be attending the Test match, which raises millions of dollars annually to fund specialist nursing for breast cancer sufferers.
Biosecurity protocols around the players are having a huge effect on the foundation.
McGrath’s presence has been such a huge part of the day in memory of his former wife, who bravely fought breast cancer before passing away in 2008.
The Pink Test is world cricket’s most-recognised charity commitment. McGrath is the co-founder and president of the foundation.
McGrath’s manager Warren Craig confirmed the legendary fast bowler would not be in Sydney for the Test match. Instead he will be on commentary duties in India with the Sony network, which takes the Fox Sports match feed but hosts its own panel shows.
Craig said COVID would have made it hard for McGrath to carry out his usual role at the Pink Test.
“He can’t do a lot of the stuff he would normally do on the day,” Craig said. “He can’t do the pink cap handovers and mix with the players. You’re not allowed on to the ground.
“He just looked at that and thought it was going to be hard to have a presence anyway.
“So he decided in consultation with the foundation that he’d take the gig with Sony.”
More than 150 breast-care nurses have been employed to support 90,000 families in Australia since 2005 through the foundation’s fundraising.
More than $2 million is raised each year from the Sydney Test match alone.
The foundation has lowered its fundraising forecasts this year.
“It will be a very different experience this year due to the pandemic,” a McGrath Foundation spokesperson said.
“Unfortunately, the personal moments on ground between the McGrath family and players from both teams can’t happen due to government protocols.
“Glenn will continue to be a big part of the Sydney Pink Test through live crosses to the Australian TV broadcast and media interviews to share our story.”
It costs over $14 million per year to fund the 151 breast-care nurses.
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