Glenn McGrath has been a fixture in the media around the Ashes between Australia and England in recent years, but he will be absent from one broadcaster for the 2025/26 series
Australia legend Glenn McGrath has been dropped as a commentator by host broadcaster ABC over his links with a betting company. McGrath is one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time and has been a fixture around the Ashes in recent years.
The 55-year-old took 563 wickets in 124 Test matches for Australia and was a frequent tormentor of England in the Ashes. He won six Ashes series with Australia and will be present at the first Test in Perth on Friday.
However, while he will still be heard on the iconic BBC Test Match Special, he won’t be used as a pundit and commentator by ABC. McGrath was used in promotional material for the Australian broadcaster’s coverage of the series, but has now been dropped on the eve of the series.
ABC told the Guardian in a statement: “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.”
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The decision has come due to McGrath’s upcoming partnership with betting giant Bet365. ABC – the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – has previously dropped ex-Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson for the same reason.
In 2022, Johnson openly criticised the decision, saying: “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 heavily in the BBC’s coverage of the Ashes, which will include live radio commentary and highlights shows. He will be working alongside Jonathan Agnew, Michael Vaughan, Simon Mann, Phil Tufnell, Alex Hartley and Jim Maxwell Down Under.
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And in classic McGrath fashion, he has predicted the home side will win 5-0. England have not won an Ashes series since 2015, drawing two and losing two, and have not won a test in Australia since 2010-11.
“It’s very rare for me to make a prediction, isn’t it? And I can’t make a different one – 5-0,” McGrath told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I’m very confident with our team. When you’ve got Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon firing in their home conditions, it’s going to be pretty tough. Plus, that track record England have had, it’d be interesting to see if they can win a Test.”
