Retired Test wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has predicted a 2-1 Ashes victory for Australia and backed a “hungry” Brett Lee to turn around his woeful record in England.

Gilchrist also warned Australia against going into the first Test in Cardiff, starting on July 8, without a specialist spinner.

Lee, on the comeback trail after undergoing a major operation on his ankle, has taken just 29 wickets at an average of 45.44 in 10 Tests in England.

With Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle considered certain starters for the first Test, it is widely believed only one out of Lee and Stuart Clark will get the nod for Cardiff.

Gilchrist said he was unsure which of the two should get the go-ahead, but had no doubt Lee would do the job if selected.

“Brett’s four more years experienced now (from the last Ashes series in England),” Gilchrist said in Perth on Thursday.

“He’s a 300-Test wicket bowler so that experience has got to count for something.

“If he does get a chance I think you’ll see him draw on those experiences and use them in a positive manner.

“He loves touring England, he understands the history and what it means to be a part of it so I’m sure he’ll be very keen to do well.

“Brett looks fit, he’s looking strong, he’s looking hungry, but so too is Stuart Clark.

“Both bowlers will do a good job.

“It’s too hard to say who should and shouldn’t be (selected).”

Gilchrist said all-rounder Marcus North and spinner Nathan Hauritz both deserved their place in the Test side despite struggling in the warm-up matches.

“In my experiences from Test cricket, a team well balanced is one with a full-time spinner in it,” he said.

“I would like to see them play a genuine spinner.

“Hopefully we can see Marcus North come through as well.

“He’s had a couple of little runabouts in the first couple of games but I’m sure he’ll get another chance in the second innings.”

Gilchrist said the return to form of Michael Hussey, who smashed a century against the England Lions, bode well for Australia.

“If a player like that is gaining in confidence, others around him will grow in confidence, too,” he said.

“Although there’s a lot of coverage about the uncertainty in our bowling group, and who’s going to play, I think there’s a good feel in the team.

“They’ve carried a lot of confidence from (their Test series win in) South Africa so with that in mind I think they’ve just got their noses in front.

“It is a bit unpredictable but I’ll go with a 2-1 win to Australia.”

Gilchrist retired from international cricket in 2008 after 96 Tests and 287 one-dayers but showed he had lost none of his touch in leading Indian Premier League side Deccan Chargers to the recent Twenty20 title in South Africa.

With more spare time on his hands, the 37-year-old has become an ambassador for the Suncorp SunWise mission, which aims to spread the message about skin cancer and preventative measures that can be taken.

© AAP 2012

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