Legendary Australian wicket-keeper Rod Marsh has spoken of his desire for England to perform well on the forthcoming Ashes series.

"If I see Australia get beaten this summer I will say 'So what?'" Marsh said.

Such comments may come as a surprise to those who remember the determined left-handed batsman and reliable 'keeper as such a whole-hearted competitor for Australia for over a decade. But Marsh revealed his belief that: "the game of cricket needs both Australia and England to be strong.

"As long as the game of cricket has won that is the most important thing," he continued, before eventually conceding: "If you ask me truthfully, of course, I always like Australia to win."

Marsh believes that the crucial element in Australia's success of recent years is the establishment of their academy, of which he has been the head. He welcomes the advent of a similar organisation in England.

"I feel sorry for England, because I wish they had an academy years ago. I think the game of cricket would be stronger here (England) and I think it would therefore be stronger around the world.

"I think it will be almost impossible, for example, from the near future onwards for anyone to play for Australia who has not had contact with our academy. They can't miss us, and we can't miss them."

Marsh did offer some hope for England in the imminent series, acknowledging their excellent tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in contrast to Australian fortunes in India. He also admitted some concern as to the future of Australian batting, with the academy currently slightly short in that department.

"I always say that the best test of a cricketer's skill is to play on the sub-continent and see how you get on," Marsh said. "It is the hardest place to play, for all sorts of reasons; the pitches, the climate - and Australia still can't do it.

"If the quicks all stay fit it will be tough. If Gillespie, Lee and McGrath play all five Test matches England will have to play bloody well, I would say."

© CricInfo