Glenn McGrath tips Australia for another 5-0 Ashes whitewash

Australia pacemen Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle took 75 wickets between them in the last Ashes

Former Australia bowler Glenn McGrath has predicted another 5-0 whitewash against England in this summer's Ashes.

England were thrashed 5-0 in Australia in 2013-14 and McGrath says the same result could occur in the 2015 series, which begins in Cardiff on 8 July.

"If the Australian team keeps playing as they are, they're going to go to England full of confidence," said the 45-year-old, who took 563 Test wickets.

"I can't see England beating them and I'm more than happy to predict 5-0."

England's one-day team have endured a wretched World Cup campaign, having been eliminated at the opening group stage following defeat against Bangladesh on Monday.

"I thought they struggled to take wickets or build up any pressure and they didn't look potent at all.

"There are going to be changes, whether it's coaching or the players. A lot of responsibility lies with the players."

Glenn McGrath (left) and Shane Warne retired from Test cricket after helping Australia defeat England 5-0 in the 2006-07 Ashes series

Attention now returns to Test cricket, with England touring West Indies for a three-match series, followed by two Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 at home to New Zealand before the Ashes.

Three-time World Cup winner McGrath, the leading wicket-taker in the history of the competition, won six of his seven Ashes series, culminating with the 5-0 whitewash of 2006-07.

The former seam bowler dismissed suggestions that Australia could have uncertainties over their captaincy because of Michael Clarke's ongoing fitness concerns.

"The captain still has a fair bit of say in what happens in Australian cricket and while Michael Clarke is fit and playing well he'll be in the team and lead the team.

"Hopefully he'll be able to continue. If he can get through, he'll be captain. If he doesn't, Steve Smith will step into his shoes and I think do a really good job. And while Michael Clarke is captain, Smithy will just go about his business as usual."