Former Australian bowler Glenn McGrath has been dropped by Australian broadcaster ABC just days before the start of the 2025/26 Ashes series.
McGrath, who is widely considered to be one of Australia’s greatest bowlers of all time, having taken 563 test wickets in 13 years between 1993 and 2007, was due to provide insight on the upcoming Ashes series between his home nation and England, but has now been dropped by public service broadcaster ABC.
The Telegraph reports that the 55-year-old was due to work as a radio commentator but has broken the broadcaster’s strict rules on its employees’ partnerships with betting companies.
McGrath has been removed from their line-up after it came to light that he has a deal with the British betting firm Bet365.
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The Australian, who won six Ashes series during his playing career, reportedly raised the issue with ABC before they “mutually parted ways”. McGrath is still expected to work for the BBC throughout the series.
A statement from the broadcaster read: “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.”
A similar incident occurred back in 2022 when former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson left ABC after his involvement with a betting agency.
At the time, it reported that he was scheduled to commentate on the radio for a three-game ODI series between Australia and Zimbabwe before he was forced to quit due to his association with Bet Nation.
Unlike McGrath, Johnson, who took 313 test wickets, hit back at the decision and claimed that “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 [the ABC],” 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.”
The 2025/26 five-test Ashes gets underway on November 21 in Perth ahead of later matches in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
Luke Davies