Whitewash - that was Australian Test legend Doug Walters' forecast for the Ashes on the eve of the Second Test starting at Lord's tomorrow.

Walters, who averaged 48.28 while earning 74 caps between 1965 and 1981, believes that England need to review the type of wickets they prepare to stand any chance against Australia.

"The only way England can beat Australia is by preparing slow, spinning wickets and I don't know whether they are going to do that.

"We don't play spin-bowling particularly well – fast seaming bowling we play very well," he added.

"We have better fast, seaming bowlers than the England guys, and apart from Shane Warne spin-wise, we haven't got much. Apart from Warne, we only have one other spinner here, Colin Miller.

"There must be some spinners somewhere around England and if they prepare slow, dusty wickets they will meet us.

"But they will not meet us if they keep preparing the type of wickets as at Edgbaston for the First Test.

"In fact, if they keep dishing up those wickets, I have no doubt that it will be a 5-0 victory to Australia and we don't want that," said Walters, who is currently leading Kingsgrove Sports Centre Touring team from Australia on a tour of England.

"I'm sure the Australian team wouldn't mind," he smiled, "but as Australian tourists over here we want to see contests.

"Australia thrashed a very weak West Indies last year and to be honest it wasn't very good viewing. We then went to India and lost 2-1 on slower spinning wickets, not quite the slow spinning dust bowls that I've played on there before, but it just goes to prove my point."

Walters now enjoys a coaching role in the game that sees him travelling around Sydney passing on his extensive knowledge to up-and-coming Australian hopefuls.

Walters became the first batsman ever to score 200 and 100 in a Test (242 & 103), that being in 1968-69 against the West Indies on his home ground, Sydney Cricket Ground.

"That was my season I guess and I have great memories of it, facing the likes of Wes Hall and Griffith," said Walters, now aged 55.

"But I now have great enjoyment and satisfaction out of coaching the youngsters (six to 16 years old) – a lot of them will never make it, but there again, the odd one will.

"If we can improve them one level of cricket then we believe we have done our job."

© The Bath Chronicle