McGrath on a mission

Glenn McGrath © Getty Images

Glenn McGrath is determined to erase the memory of Australia’s Ashes disappointment when the winter series gets under way.

The pace bowler missed both Australia’s defeats - at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge - last year through injury, but admits he is still smarting from England’s triumph.

Those flashbacks, the 36-year-old says, will provide the spur for revenge against a team he views as weaker than that of 12 months ago.

“The thing that sticks in my mind the most is after the final day's play at the Oval, watching England walk up and receive the Ashes,” McGrath said.

“It reminded me of the Edgbaston defeat in 1997, looking over to where England were celebrating.

McGrath injures an ankle just before the Edgbaston Test

“It is not something I enjoy and I will do whatever it takes not to be in that situation again. It's good motivation.

"The Australian team has taken things to the next level since then.

"In respect to England, I have been a little bit disappointed in the way they have played.

"After beating us I would have thought they would take the world by storm and beat everyone else. It goes to show injuries play a massive part.”

McGrath, who has predicted a 5-0 Australia victory this winter, also expressed doubts as to how England would cope without captain Michael Vaughan.

“Obviously, with the captain changing it does unsettle the team a little bit," he said.

“The fact that Vaughany did such a great job and had the same team to work with made it a lot easier.

McGrath contemplates defeat by England in the 2005 Ashes

“With Freddie now being captain it's a huge ask because he is such a pivotal guy in both their batting and bowling line-ups.

“He is a class player and seems mentally very strong so if anyone can do it he probably can but it is going to be a huge ask.

“You always like to think it takes a pretty special kind of performance to beat us and they deserved to win the Ashes last time; this time it is going to be different.”

England's first meeting with Australia this winter comes in less than a fortnight in Jaipur, and McGrath conceded: “Whoever wins will take a slight edge.

“If you look back to the last Champions Trophy, England beat us in the semi-final and maybe that was an indication of how they were travelling.

“It gave them confidence last time and they were playing with the same team under the same captain for 18 months and it did have an effect when they beat us, yes.”