England became the first side for 86 years to suffer a 5-0 Ashes whitewash after slipping to a comprehensive ten-wicket defeat in the final Test.

Australia became the first side since 1920-21 to complete a 5-0 series triumph.

They dismissed England for just 147 on the fourth morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground and then raced to their victory target of 46 before lunch.

Resuming on an already perilous 114-5, a lead of just 12 runs, the tourists' hopes of avoiding the inevitable rested with Kevin Pietersen guiding them to a competitive total to put pressure on Australia in the final innings.

But Hampshire batsman Pietersen fell to the third ball of the day without adding to his overnight 29 and England lost their last five wickets in only 15 overs to be dismissed for a lowly 147.

Pietersen's dismissal, edging behind to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist from a classic Glenn McGrath delivery just outside off-stump, began one of the familiar collapses which have been a trademark of England's dismal Ashes campaign.

Australia immediately applied the pressure and denied England a single run for the first four overs of the day, which contributed to the run out of Monty Panesar.

Frustrated by their inability to add to the overnight total, new batsman Chris Read pushed McGrath onto the off-side and set off for a quick single without accounting for the athletic fielding ability of Andrew Symonds.

Before Panesar could really react, Symonds had swooped from mid-off and thrown down the stumps to leave England's left-arm spinner several feet short of the crease when the middle stump was knocked back.

England at least registered their first runs off the 26th ball of the day two deliveries later, Sajid Mahmood edging McGrath through the slip cordon for four, but it merely delayed the inevitable.

Read's brief innings was halted four balls after getting off the mark when he edged a wide Brett Lee delivery low to Ricky Ponting at second slip.

Mahmood fell in the next over, bowled by McGrath to a delivery slanted into him, but last pair Steve Harmison and Jimmy Anderson showed some belated defiance by adding 24.

However, just 15 overs into the fourth day, McGrath finished off the innings when Anderson lofted him straight to Mike Hussey at mid-on before walking off to a standing ovation with Hampshire skipper Shane Warne.

Chasing a modest victory target, openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden completed the emphatic victory in just 10.5 overs to seal Australia's 11th successive Test triumph.

Ashes reaction: Log back onto this website later this morning.