ENGLAND were crushed by ten wickets in the fifth and final Test in Sydney as Australia made history with a first Ashes whitewash in over 80 years by ripping through the English tail for just 33 runs.
Not since the 1920-21 tour have an England side succumbed 5-0, but the class of 2006-07 added their names to that unwanted list as the Australian juggernaut produced another awesome display.
The tourists simply had no answer as Glenn McGrath, who
took three wickets today for 38 runs, along with team-mates Shane Warne and opener Justin Langer said goodbye to Test cricket at the SCG.
Langer (20 not out) and fellow opener Matthew Hayden (23 not out) then knocked off the 46 needed for victory as the Australians wiped out the memory of England's 2005 Ashes triumph.
But the defiant England captain Andrew Flintoff, believes watching the Australian side parade the Ashes trophy would be the inspiration behind England's 2009 campaign.
"We've seen the Australians walking round the ground taking the Ashes back, which they fully deserve," said Flintoff.
"But hopefully, in 2009 it could be us walking around the ground and acknowledging the crowd.
"You look at the side in our dressing room and it's a young side.
"We've got regroup. Australia have come back better and stronger and have raised the bar again.
"But we've got to work on that now. We've got to get better. We've got a lot of cricket between now and 2009 to improve."
The 5-0 scoreline will heap pressure on England's under-fire coach Duncan Fletcher following some controversial decisions in the opening matches Down Under.
Monty Panesar and wicket-keeper Chris Read were both initially omitted, while the tour schedule and lack of input from chairman of selectors David Graveney has been heavily criticised.
But Fletcher argued that the absences of regular captain Michael Vaughan, along with key figures Marcus Trescothick and Simon Jones was the major factor behind England's defeat.
"There have been some big losses to this side, huge losses, and it always takes time to fill those gaps," said Fletcher.
"When you get young guys coming into a side they're always inconsistent and that's what happened.
"From my point of view the selection process is fine, it has been successful.
"It's the second Test series we've lost in 11 or 12 and suddenly it's wrong?
"I don't think it has to be changed at this stage but other people feel differently."
The situation looked hopeless for the tourists as they returned to the SCG with a lead of only 12 runs and just five second-innings wickets in hand.
McGrath, the tormentor-in-chief for Australia, extinguished any English hope as he produced a delivery to dismiss Kevin Pietersen with just the third ball of the day which epitomised his 13-year career,
The tourists' last recognised batsman and man of the series was beaten all ends up as he edged the back of a length seaming delivery to Adam Gilchrist without adding to his overnight score of 29.
England then shot themselves in the foot, as if the Australians needed any help, as a mix up between new batsman Read and night watchman Panesar saw the latter run out for a duck by Andrew Symonds.
It was only a matter of time from then on as Brett Lee had Read (4) caught at second slip after a petulant swipe and Sajid Mahmood was bowled off his pads by the rampant McGrath.
Steve Harmison and James Anderson delayed the inevitable with a stand of 24 but the fairytale ending was only just around the corner. McGrath, on his home patch, threw one up to Anderson and England's number XI played his part perfectly with a speculative drive to Michael Hussey at mid-on to give the retiring McGrath the honour of the final wicket of the series.
As McGrath and Warne left the field to another standing ovation the scene was set for the final retiree, Langer, to hit the winning runs.
But it was Hayden who took centre stage by smashing Mahmood for a six before chalking off the single run needed for the sweetest of victories.
Langer said: "I said to Haydos in the last over 'Mate, I'm getting a bit emotional here, how about a six and a one to finish it?'.
"Next thing you know, bang! A six and a one and then you actually realise it was all over."
The rest of the Australian side entered the field to receive the deserved accolade of the crowd.
The full article contains 776 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
