McGrath: The Ashes are ours Photo © CricInfo Ltd.

The revival of the England team has left the Australians unimpressed. With an Ashes summer looming and the England team having just secured their third successive series win, one would have thought that the Australians were preparing for a close fought encounter with the old enemy.

But Australia's two most influential players, Captain Steve Waugh and fast-bowler Glenn McGrath, have both spoken of their supreme confidence in advance of the encounter, and have even suggested the possibility of a whitewash.

"For England to match us they have got to play exceptional, aggressive cricket," said pace bowler McGrath.

"What I saw in Pakistan was not that. The Ashes are ours for the keeping. A 5-0 win is our goal."

Steve Waugh recently referred to England's performance in Pakistan as "the most boring cricket I've ever seen." He has few doubts the momentum that his record breaking team have built up will prove unstoppable.

"When you are on a roll then you do not expect any result other than victory," he told The Mirror.

"Our confidence now is as high as ever. We will certainly be going out to win every match and it will take something special to stop us."

The last time the two teams met in this country England went down 2-3 with victories in the first and last games of the series.

© CricInfo Ltd.