Pace legend Glenn McGrath, who has often predicted results of Australia's Test rubbers, forecast yet another 5-0 clean sweep by his country against England in the upcoming Ashes series.
“I am looking forward to the Ashes. I had been predicting 5-0, but I have changed my prediction. I am now predicting 10-0 because Australia is already 5-0 up from the last tour," was the ex-fast bowler's tongue-in-cheek response to a query in Mumbai on Monday.
The 45-year-old banked his prophesy on the way Australia, the reigning ODI World champions, have been playing.
"The Australian team have been playing some exceptional cricket (while) England had their confidence knocked around from the World Cup. I want good competitive cricket, with Australia winning each game," said McGrath, who is on a visit to Mumbai as brand ambassador of Australia's Hardys Wines for Indian distributors Sula.
McGrath, who is set to do cricket commentary duties during the July-August Ashes, grudgingly conceded that England perform well only in their backyard.
"They do play a lot better in English conditions. They are playing New Zealand at the moment. In the first Test they came back well to win that. New Zealand are doing quite well in this Test match (at Headingley, Leeds)," he noted.
He was full of praise for the Australian pace attack, led by Mitchell Johnson.
"Australia has got plenty of fast bowlers which is great. The way Mitchell Johnson came back and bowled, especially in the Ashes was brilliant. He really led the team and won the Ashes for us.
"Mitchell Starc has got the height control and bowls that yorker. Ryan Harris has been a quality bowler for Aus for a long time. He has good control and builds pressure up.
"Then you have Josh Hazlewood coming in -- he's tall, hits good areas and gets good bounce. There's enough variation between those four. Then you have James Pattinson and Pat Cummins. Lot of good, healthy competition there."
