Glenn McGrath loses ABC commentary role on eve of Ashes due to betting links

One of Australia’s greatest Test players won’t be heard on radio during the Ashes after losing his role days out from the first ball being bowled in Perth.

Fast bowling great Glenn McGrath has been sensationally forced out of his ABC radio gig on the eve of the Ashes.

McGrath has become the latest victim of the national broadcaster’s policy of employees not being allowed to have an association with a betting agency.

The Test superstar has a relationship with bet365 and is a regular contributor on their website. The betting company has also been a major supporter of the McGrath Foundation’s Pink Test in Sydney and is gold member partner of Cricket Australia with their branding on boundary ropes at venues throughout the Ashes.

Fellow fast bowler Mitchell Johnson was also booted from the ABC commentary team in 2022 for having a deal with betting agency Bet Nation.

Glenn McGrath has lost his ABC Radio job on the eve of the Ashes.

It’s understood McGrath’s case went to the very top with ABC managing director Hugh Marks involved in discussions but ultimately it was decided it was unfair to others if an exception was made.

McGrath, who has been a part of the broadcaster for the past couple of summers, will still have a voice during the Ashes with the BBC who shares commentators with the ABC but don’t have any issue with his other media deals.

An ABC spokesperson said: “The ABC and Glenn McGrath have mutually parted ways for this Ashes. We look forward to seeing Glenn around the grounds throughout the series and would welcome working with him in the future.

“Our great commentary team, led by Jim Maxwell and Corbin Middlemas, is excited for the first test in Perth this Friday.”

Johnson was outspoken at the time about his dumping saying there was a “lot of hypocrisy that goes with this rule”.

Glenn McGrath axed for his Bet365 partnership.

Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath and Mel McLaughlin at the SCG.

“I don’t understand and you start to wonder about what you can and can’t say if you are calling for them,” Johnson said.

“It’s blown me away a little bit: do we have to make sure we have to align with the ABC’s moral compass? There’s nothing I can do about it . . . that’s the rule and I guess I’m not going to work with them.”

Former St Kilda and Essendon star Brendon Goddard was also a victim of the clause, forced off the AFL commentary team in 2022 because he was hosting a podcast sponsored by Sportsbet.

The late scratching of McGrath is a blow for the ABC team which is led by veteran Jim Maxwell and Corbin Middlemas, however local WA legend Tom Moody is set to be subbed in as a replacement.

Former Australian coach Darren Lehmann leads the expert team which includes Stuart Clark, Jason Gillespie and former English spinner Phil Tufnell.

Originally published as Glenn McGrath loses ABC commentary role on eve of Ashes due to betting links