Aussie cricket legend dismissed from Ashes radio position
Aussie cricket legend Glenn McGrath has been dismissed from his commentary role on the eve of the Ashes following a review.
Aussie cricket legend Glenn McGrath has been dismissed from his ABC radio position on the eve of the Ashes.
The national broadcaster last month promoted the fact McGrath would be returning to his role as a cricket commentator.
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However, in a dramatic backflip, Code Sports reports the ABC has now cut ties with McGrath over his links to a betting agency.
The ABC has a longstanding policy of banning sporting talent from involvement in betting activities.
According to the report, the ABC has forced McGrath out of his commentary position because of his relationship with bet365.
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The international bookmaker has been a supporter of the annual Jane McGrath Pink Test in Sydney.
The breast cancer charity is now synonymous with the New Years Test at the SCG.
News.com.au understands McGrath’s arrangement with bet365 is completely separate from the charity organisation.
Bet365 launched a promotion with McGrath and Ricky Ponting on X on Wednesday afternoon.
The ABC has stepped in to drop McGrath from its line-up. According to Code Sports, the review of McGrath’s case went all the way to ABC managing director Hugh Marks’ office before the call was made.
“The ABC and Glenn McGrath have mutually parted ways for this Ashes,” an ABC spokesperson told news.com.au.
“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.”
The legendary fast-bowler, who finished his career with 563 Test wickets, will reportedly continue his role as a commentator with the BBC’s radio operation.
It was only last month that the ABC proudly announced McGrath would be returning.
“Joining (Corbin) Middlemas and (Jim) Maxwell for match coverage will be former Australian coach and dual World Cup winner Darren Lehmann alongside Australian Test legends Glenn McGrath and Stuart Clark and former player and coach Jason Gillespie,” the ABC said in a press release on October 7.
McGrath is not the first Aussie cricketer to lose a position as a result of the betting policy.
Mitchell Johnson in 2022 was forced out because of a link with Bet Nation.
The Ashes destroyer at the time publicly criticised the policy which judged him to have a conflict of interest.
He signed with rival sports broadcaster Triple M the same summer.
“I have really enjoyed working with the ABC team over recent seasons and was looking forward to doing it again,” Johnson said at the time.
“There seems to be a lot of hypocrisy that goes with this rule. I don’t understand and you start to wonder about what you can and can’t say if you are calling for them.
“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.”
McGrath will still feature on the BBC commentary team for the upcoming Ashes series.
The first Ashes Test gets underway in Perth on Friday.
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