Australia's Glenn McGrath (centre, back) celebrates with captain Ricky Ponting (left) after he took England's last wicket of their second innings during the fourth day of the fifth and final Ashes cricket Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground today (last night Jamaican time). - Reuters

sydney (reuters):

Australia thrashed Eng-land by 10 wickets to win the fifth Test with a day and a half to spare today and complete their first Ashes series whitewash in 86 years.

Matthew Hayden hit the winning run 12 minutes before lunch on the fourth day at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as Australia cruised to their victory target of 46 in 10.5 overs to send the retiring trio of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer out on a winning note.

Langer was unbeaten on 20 at the close with his long-time opening partner Hayden on 23.

England, who started the fourth day on 114 for five and leading by 12, lost their last five wickets for 33 runs to be all out for 147.

Australian seamer McGrath picked up three of the last five wickets in his final Test before retiring, to lift his career tally to 563, the most by any fast bowler. World-record holder Warne failed to add to his tally of 708.

England's slim hopes of a late fightback disappeared when Kevin Pietersen departed to the third ball of the day when he edged a simple catch off McGrath to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist without adding to his overnight score of 29.

Nightwatchman Monty Panesar was dismissed for his second duck in the match when he was run out by a direct hit from Andrew Symonds.

Wicketkeeper Chris Read hit one boundary but failed to score again before edging Brett Lee into the safe hands of Ricky Ponting at second slip.

McGrath clean bowled Sajid Mahmood for four then finished off the innings when he had James Anderson caught by Mike Hussey at mid-on for five, leaving Steve Harmison stranded on 16.

Highlights of final day

❒ England resume on 114-5.

❒ Pietersen, on 29, nibbles at a classic Glenn McGrath delivery and snicks a regulation catch to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. 114-6.

❒ Chris Read tries to take a quick single off McGrath and Monty Panesar is beaten by Andrew Symonds's direct hit on middle stump from extra cover. 114-7.

❒ Sajid Mahmood steers Mc-Grath through gully for four, the first runs of the day.

❒ Read prods weakly at Brett Lee and Ricky Ponting takes a brilliant diving catch at second slip. 122-8.

❒ Mahmood is bowled by a McGrath delivery that keeps low. 123-9.

❒ James Anderson spoons McGrath to Mike Hussey at midwicket. Steve Harmison finishes unbeaten on 16.

❒ The England team form a guard of honour to welcome Langer to the crease in his final Test match.

❒ Hayden smashes Mahmood for six to bring the scores level and takes a single off the next delivery to seal victory.

5-0 whitewashes

sydney (reuters):

List of 5-0 series whitewashes in Test cricket history after Australia completed a 5-0 win over England today.

Australia beat England 5-0 in Australia 1920-21

Australia beat South Africa 5-0 in Australia 1931-32

England beat India 5-0 in England in 1959

West Indies beat India 5-0 in West Indies in 1961-62

West Indies beat England 5-0 in England 1984

West Indies beat England 5-0 in West Indies in 1985-86

South Africa beat West Indies 5-0 in West Indies in 1998-99

Australia beat West Indies 5-0 in Australia in 2000-01

Australia beat England 5-0 in Australia in 2006-07