England have enough to see off Australia, even with David Warner and Steve Smith, says John Emburey

Emburey's last home Ashes Test at Lord's came 30 years ago this summer in a series that started a run of nine consecutive Australian victories, broken famously in England in 2005. The tourists have yet to record a series victory on English soil since

Former England and Middlesex legend John Emburey has predicted another tight Ashes series this summer thanks to the return of some Australia’s match-winning players.

Emburey was speaking ahead of his latest appearance at Lord's. The 66-year-old has recently taken on a new role as a guest host on the venue’s tours and experiences. It’s a job he is well equipped for after a Middlesex career that spanned three decades and a Test career which saw him play nine matches at the Home of Cricket, including his debut in 1978 against New Zealand.

His last home Ashes Test at Lord's came 30 years ago this summer in a series that started a run of nine consecutive Australian victories, broken famously in England in 2005. The tourists have yet to record a series victory on English soil since then, going down 3-2 on their last visit in 2015.

The former spinner believes it could be as close again this summer with David Warner and Steve Smith returning for the Baggy Greens, adding to what he feels is a strong bowling attack.

"The Australians are going to be a stronger side than their performance in India suggests with Smith and Warner coming back – there’s no doubt about that. They’ve also got a top quality spinner in Nathan Lyon. He is probably the best finger spinner in world cricket and he’s a handful," he says.

^{John Emburey}

"He won’t get the spin on the pitches in England as he does in Australia but he is certainly a match winning bowler in the right conditions. Two winters years ago he tore us apart in Brisbane and contributed across the series.

"It’s a good all round attack and the batting will be a lot stronger than it was in the winter so its going to be a tough series for England but I’d like to think they will come through. It’s going to be close but I think England might just shade the series it maybe 2-1"

The Lord's Ashes test starts on August 14 and is part of a huge summer of cricket at the venue with the World Cup and the historic first ever England–Ireland Test match also catching the eye.

As a tour host Emburey is getting a closer than look than most at the preparations taking place and, with his Lord's career coming full circle.

He added: "Getting the opportunity to do the tours here is fantastic. People get to see and learn so much when they come on one. We go to the dressing rooms, where I’m able to give a bit of an insight about the characters and stories from my time playing here.

"We also take people through the Long Room, down the Pavilion, through the gate and onto the pitch so they get a real sense of what it is like to walk out on Lords as a top class cricketer. It’s a great way to experience Lords."

The Lords experiences include the Beyond a Boundary Tour, Players Dining Room Tour and The Hat Trick Tour (which combines both) and all are hosted by a Middlesex and England legend.

To find out more, click here.

The Cricketer has teamed up with Lords to offer readers two places on one the venue’s Beyond a Boundary Tours this summer. To be entered into the draw for the prize click here

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