Glenn McGrath has claimed that England will need to produce a remarkable turnaround if they are to be a match for Australia in this summer's Ashes series.

England have found it difficult to fully recover from the whitewash defeat in the 2013-14 series, and McGrath believes that the tourists must be regarded as firm favourites to pile further pressure on Alastair Cook, whose side will meet the West Indies and New Zealand before facing Australia.

"Australia have not won the Ashes in England since 2001 and that is going to change this year," the former fast bowler, who took 563 wickets in 124 Test matches, is quoted as saying by The Mirror.

"There is a fair gap between the two teams at the moment so a fair bit has to happen between now and then, and it will be interesting to see what does occur over the next few months to English cricket.

"I know they've got the West Indies tour coming up, they need to find some form. It is going to take a big effort from them to be able to compete with this Australia side at the moment."

Sports Mole has taken a closer look at the squad which will look to retain The Ashes in England this summer.