Former Australian cricket star Glenn McGrath has been removed as a commentator by ABC due to his association with a betting firm. Renowned for his exceptional bowling prowess, McGrath, 55, claimed 563 wickets in 124 Test matches for the Australian team, dominating the Ashes series against England. Despite his absence from ABC’s commentary team, McGrath will still contribute to BBC’s Test Match Special coverage. This decision was influenced by McGrath’s upcoming collaboration with Bet365, a significant betting company.

In response to this development, ABC and McGrath mutually agreed to part ways for the current Ashes series. ABC expressed anticipation for future collaborations with McGrath while affirming their existing commentary team’s readiness for the upcoming Test in Perth. Notably, McGrath’s exclusion follows a similar incident involving former cricketer Mitchell Johnson in the past, showcasing ABC’s stance on partnerships with betting entities.

While McGrath will not feature in ABC’s coverage, he will play a substantial role in the BBC’s Ashes broadcast, joining a lineup that includes Jonathan Agnew, Michael Vaughan, and others. McGrath, known for his bold predictions, has forecasted a 5-0 victory for Australia in the upcoming series, citing the formidable home team’s strength and England’s historical challenges in Australian conditions.