Ashes PHOTOS: Harris, Rogers star as Australia whitewash England

Australia beat England by 281 runs on Day 3 of in the 5th Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday to sweep the Ashes series 5-0.

- Australia win at SCG to sweep Ashes series 5-0

- Scorecard

The 5-0 sweep was only the third in the history of Ashes encounters after Australia's 1920-21 and 2006-07 triumphs.

"It's obviously a very special occasion. We couldn't have foreseen the 5-0 after the England series but I said then the work we were putting in was going to get rewards," a beaming Clarke said at the presentation ceremony.

"I think the bowlers have done a fantastic job. In my opinion we have the best attack in the world. I think they've earned that mantle."

Ryan Harris starred for Australia with brilliant figures of 5 for 25.

Earlier, Australia were dismissed for 276 in their second innings shortly after lunch on the third day of the fifth Test on Sunday, setting England an unlikely victory target of 448 to avoid a 5-0 series sweep.

Chris Rogers recorded his highest Test score with 119 before departing caught and bowled by debutant leg spinner Scott Borthwick in the second over after the break and England then mopped up the tail.

Paceman Boyd Rankin removed Peter Siddle caught behind for four to end the innings and claim his first Test wicket.

When England came to chase, skipper Alastair Cook (7), Ian Bell (16) and Kevin Pietersen (6) all fell in the middle session as England limped to tea on 87-3 but it was carnage after the interval as four wickets tumbled in two overs with the tourists falling apart against inspired Australian bowling and fielding.

Ben Stokes offered some belated resistance, punishing Lyon for 20 off one over before he played Harris on to his stumps for 32 off 16 balls with three fours and two sixes.

Stuart Broad also went down swinging with four sixes and three fours in his 42 off 36 balls before bowled by Harris, and Boyd Rankin was last man out, caught overhead by Clarke at second slip to complete the victory.

"It's tough knowing you've played your five matches and lost them all badly," Cook said.

"We weren't good enough to turn it around. But you have to give credit to Michael and his team, they thoroughly deserved their victories."

Australia had an unlikely hero in Brad Haddin who became the highest-scoring Australian wicketkeeper in a Test series with his breezy 28 off 40 balls.

Haddin, the nemesis of the English bowlers with his lower middle-order batting, finished the series with 493 runs at 61.62 to better the previous best of 473 held by Adam Gilchrist against South Africa in 2001-02.