Aussie cricket legend Mitchell Johnson has sensationally been forced out of his ABC radio gig.
The iconic firebrand has confirmed he has been forced to quit the national broadcaster over a clash of his media roles.
The Australian first revealed the West Australian has been locked out because of the ABC’s policy banning its employees from working with the network while they have an association with a betting agency.
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He was scheduled to be part of the ABC radio commentary team for the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe which begins in Townsville on Sunday.
Australia has a busy schedule in coming months before the T20 World Cup on home soil, beginning in October.
The Aussie men’s cricket team has limited overs series against Zimbabwe, New Zealand, West Indies, India and England before then.
Johnson’s withdrawal and the recent retirement of former Aussie test captain Ian Chappell leaves the ABC with a huge hole to fill.
Johnson told News Corp the ABC’s decision to enforce the gambling policy left him blown away.
“I have really enjoyed working with the ABC team over recent seasons and was looking forward to doing it again,” Johnson told the ABC.
“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.
“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 West Australian reports Johnson has been contacted by Triple M and is considering an option to join the commercial network’s cricket coverage this summer.
Johnson’s deal with betting agency Bet Nation expires in November, but the ABC has ruled the clash is a conflict of interest.
Johnson’s position is one of several moves that have played out recently in Australian cricket commentary roles.
It was announced last month former Australian men’s coach Justin Langer will join Channel 7’s commentary team for the upcoming home summer of cricket.
Meanwhile, there was big news in Australian cricket on Thursday with former Brisbane Heat captain Chris Lynn signing an unprecedented deal with Cricket Australia and the Adelaide Strikers.
Lynn will be available for 11 of the Strikers’ 14 home and away fixtures this summer after reaching a compromise with CA that allowed him to compete in a high-paying overseas domestic league during the BBL window.
