McGrath predicts Australia's victory over Ashes 5-0

• McGrath predicts that Australia will win the Ashes 5-0.
• England has not won a test in Australia since 2011.
• Key players for England – Joe Root and Harry Brook.

Glenn McGrath predicts that Australia will win the Ashes series in 2025-26 with a score of 5-0. The former Australian bowler, who has won the Ashes six times, regularly makes this prediction. He also predicted a 5-0 win before the 2023 series, which ended in a 2-2 draw, with Australia retaining the trophy.

England has not won an Ashes series since 2015, having played two series in between and losing both, and has not won any series or tests in Australia since 2010-11. "It’s very rare that I make a prediction like that, isn’t it? And I can’t see it being anything other than 5-0," McGrath said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I have great confidence in our team. When you have Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon playing at home, it will be tough. Plus, considering England's history, it will be interesting to see if they manage to win a test."

Australia won 4-0 when England last visited in 2021-22, while the captain's team has only won two of the last 15 tests at home, winning 11 and drawing two. McGrath acknowledged that there are "problems" with the batting of Australia, especially with their inexperienced top three. Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, and Marcus Labuschagne are not in the best form, and wicketkeeper Sam Constance has not yet secured the spot left by David Warner, who has retired.

However, alongside McGrath, it is also necessary to "strengthen" England's bowling. He believes that the key battle will take place between the top-order tourists and the Australian bowlers, highlighting Joe Root and Harry Brook as two players to watch. "This series will be important for Root. He hasn’t played well in Australia, he doesn’t have any runs there, so it will be interesting to see how he performs on the field. He’s in good form."

Joe Root scored 892 test runs in Australia, including nine fifties, but has not scored a single century. His average is 35.68 in Australia, compared to his career average of 51.29, and his highest score is 89.

"Brook is someone I’ve always enjoyed watching. He simply goes out and plays his game," McGrath added. "Australians need to focus on him from the very start. Ben Duckett is a very aggressive opener. Zak Crawley wanted to score more runs than previously. The key battle will be top-order versus top-order England against Australian fast bowlers and Lyon."

England has won 25 out of 41 tests under the leadership of coach Brendon McCullum, but has not won a series from five tests, the last time they played a draw 2-2 with India. McGrath, 55, expressed enthusiasm for the style of play England has under McCullum, but noted they need to be more "consistent" from a psychological standpoint. "I like to see players who go out and play without fear," he noted. "That’s what Baz wants to bring to the England team – to play without fear. I would like to see more responsibility and mental focus."

Tags: Sport