Glenn McGrath gets brutal punishment in Australian Cricket for betting scandal

Australian cricket legend Glenn McGrath has been removed from ABC’s commentary team for the upcoming Ashes 2025-26 series against England after his partnership with major betting company Bet365 came to light. Now, Glenn McGrath will no longer be appearing in broadcasts.

The legendary Australian fast bowler was part of the Ashes commentary line-up for ABC, but his association with Bet365 ended his broadcast deal. ABC has a strict policy that doesn’t allow the commentators and staff to have any commercial deals with gambling agencies.

Glenn McGrath dropped from ABC commentary over gambling link

However, Glenn McGrath's management had informed the broadcaster ABC about his deal with Bet365 before the decision, so this partnership was ended mutually. While McGrath will not feature on the commentary panel, he will still be seen around the grounds during the Ashes 2025-26 series.

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An ABC spokesperson said in a statement as quoted by The Guardian: “The ABC and Glenn McGrath have mutually parted ways for these Ashes. We look forward to seeing Glenn McGrath 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.”

When Mitchell Johnson left ABC over gambling restrictions

Earlier, back in 2022, former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson also left ABC because of his links with betting agencies. And that time, Johnson openly disagreed with the decision and questioned the restrictions placed on commentators regarding gambling partnerships.

Mitchell Johnson had said at that time, “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.”

Usman Khawaja calls for an urgent ban on gambling ads in sports

Even the veteran Australian batter Usman Khawaja recently criticised the government for acting too slowly on gambling ads in sports. Khawaja stressed the need for urgent action to cut ties between wagering companies and sports to protect the game and its players from the influence of betting.

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Khawaja stated, “If gambling is repeatedly being brought together with sport and athletes, showing you can’t watch sport without gambling, then it is a very, very dangerous precedent to set.”

Ashes 2025-26 set to ignite classic Australia vs England rivalry

Meanwhile, the Ashes 2025-26 is all set to bring one of the most intense rivalries back into the spotlight. Australia and England are set to battle in a five-match Test series, starting later this week. The first match will be played at Optus Stadium in Perth from November 21, with the remaining tests scheduled across Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Australia will be led by stand-in captain Steve Smith, as Pat Cummins is ruled out due to a back injury. Under Ben Stokes, England is aiming to finally break their long losing streak in Australia. England has not won an Ashes Test series on Australian soil for 15 years, and their last Test win in Australia came in January 2011.

The upcoming Test series gives them a chance to end that long wait and claim a historic series after a decade. However, Australia has been the dominant team in Ashes history, with 152 wins in 361 tests overall and 142 victories in 345 Ashes matches.