McGrath predicts Ashes whitewash for Australia

Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has predicted a whitewash for Australia against England in the Ashes series starting at Cardiff on Wednesday.

Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has predicted a whitewash for Australia against England in the Ashes series starting at Cardiff on Wednesday.

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Australia's most successful fast bowler insists he is not being silly by tipping Ricky Ponting's side to win 5-0 in England.

The retired pace great believes he is on solid ground as he was enormously impressed by Australia's Test series win on hostile South African soil earlier this year.

"My prediction is it will be 5-0 to Australia," McGrath was quoted as saying in the Australian on Tuesday.

"I have got total confidence in the boys, especially watching the way they played in South Africa in the last Test series.

"I thought that would have given them a lot of confidence. They showed what they can do and the huge potential that they've got. If they can do the same here and maybe even improve in one or two areas they will do really well and probably win 5-0."

Even though he retired more than two years ago, McGrath could still have an influence on the Ashes battle.

Last week McGrath was summoned into a team meeting to provide the new-look pace attack with an Ashes edge.

And now the man with 563 Test wickets has tried to mess with the minds of the English by so confidently predicting a 5-0 drubbing.