‘5-0’: McGrath has no qualms about Australia whitewashing England in Ashes

new Delhi: The Ashes is still over three months away but pace legend Glenn McGrath is out with his much-awaited prediction for the upcoming edition -- a 5-0 sweep for Australia.

The feisty showdown is slated to begin in Perth on November 21 and McGrath believes England will find it “pretty tough” to battle past the likes of Pat Cummins and a rather poor past record.

McGrath said his prediction this time is based on how England were held to a 2-2 series draw by India in the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

“It’s very rare for me to make a prediction, isn’t it? And I can’t make a different one - 5-0,” McGrath declared on ‘BBC Radio’. “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,” he added.

England, who are set to travel Down Under for the five-match series later this year, haven’t won the Ashes since 2015. Additionally, they have lost either 0-5 or 0-4 in all but one series in Australia since 2002-03. Their last Test win came in 2010-11 when they claimed a 3-1 series triumph.

Australia won 4-0 when England last toured the country in 2021-22 and Pat Cummins’ side have only lost two of their past 15 Tests at home.

McGrath admitted that Australia’s unsettled top three is an issue. The likes of Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne are also out of form, while the young and sprightly Sam Konstas is yet to cement

his spot as opener.