England fans should hide behind the sofa rather than watch the Ashes this summer , says Mark Butcher . After a humiliating World Cup exit , England face a Test series in the West Indies , followed by series at home to New Zealand and Australia . Speaking to Radio 5 Live , the former England opener warned fans to expect an ‘ absolute hiding ’ and a ‘ horrendous six months ’ . Butcher , who played in 71 Tests for England and scored eight centuries , added : ‘ When Australia come , just don ’ t watch , hide behind the sofa. ’ England 's under siege captain and coach Eoin Morgan ( left ) and Peter Moores speak at the SCG . Former England opener Mark Butcher ( right ) has predicted the worst for the national team in the near future . Here England are preparing for a dead rubber against Afghanistan , with Peter Moores ’ men having far more to lose than just a meaningless group match . The indications are that Moores will keep his job , at least for the Test series in the Caribbean , whatever happens at the Sydney Cricket Ground tomorrow , but the last thing he needs is another desperate defeat by minnows . The fact England turned up early yesterday for what used to be known as naughty-boy nets and had a full training session said everything about their need to take something from their worst-ever World Cup . Victory against Afghanistan would perhaps give Moores breathing space before the squad is announced on Tuesday for the three-Test series in the West Indies next month . England will be without Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes , two players who can still expect a one-day future , and it is far from certain that both will be able to take their places on the plane to St Kitts on April 2 . Moores attempts to rally his troops on the SCG on Wednesday ahead of their match against Afghanistan . Moeen strained an abdominal muscle when bowling in the defeat by Bangladesh while Woakes has a ‘ stress reaction ’ in his left foot . It is to be hoped England give games to the two players yet to appear in this World Cup : James Tredwell and Ravi Bopara , who could then be making their final ODI appearances . After the World Cup England must start from scratch with a one-day squad who will be at or near their peak in 2019 . That means there is little point in persevering in 50-over cricket beyond tomorrow with the likes of Tredwell , Bopara , Ian Bell , Stuart Broad or Jimmy Anderson , who said on Wednesday he wants to play on . His is not a view shared by former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior . Young England quick Chris Jordan works up a sweat during a tough day of training in the Sydney sunshine . In his Evening Standard column Prior wrote : ‘ Men like Ian Bell , Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad ... remain key members of the Test side , so perhaps it is time for them to concentrate solely on that form of the game , especially with an Ashes summer approaching. ’ There is a familiar figure at the helm of the Afghan team in coach Andy Moles , the former Warwickshire batsman . He would have no qualms about piling on the misery for his homeland and said : ‘ We still believe we ’ ve got a scare in us in this World Cup , especially if we show composure at the top of the order . If we hold our nerve and are at our best we can pull off a shock . ’
Former England opener Mark Butcher told fans not to watch the Ashes . The ECB said it was a 'one-off event' and would be broadcast on BBC One in the UK at 9pm BST - but that viewers should still tune in.