Australia cricket legend Glenn McGrath has been removed as a commentator by the host broadcaster ABC due to his association with a betting company. Known as one of the finest fast bowlers in history, McGrath has been a familiar presence at the Ashes in recent times.
With a remarkable record of 563 wickets in 124 Test matches for Australia, McGrath has been a formidable opponent for England in the Ashes series, winning six such series with his team. Despite his absence as a pundit and commentator on ABC, he will continue to be part of the BBC Test Match Special team.
ABC confirmed the decision, stating that they and McGrath have mutually agreed to part ways for the current Ashes series. The broadcaster expressed openness to future collaboration with McGrath while highlighting their excitement for the upcoming series led by commentators Jim Maxwell and Corbin Middlemas.
The move to drop McGrath from ABC’s coverage stems from his upcoming partnership with the betting company Bet365, following a similar decision involving former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson in the past. McGrath, however, will remain actively involved in the BBC’s Ashes coverage alongside a lineup of renowned commentators.
In a typical McGrath fashion, he boldly predicted a 5-0 victory for the Australian team in the upcoming series. England, who last won an Ashes series in 2015, face a tough challenge against the formidable Australian bowling attack spearheaded by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon in their home conditions. McGrath emphasized the difficulty England might face in securing a test win, considering their past performance in Australia.
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