Melbourne: West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has said that Australia will inevitably come back to the field when Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath are gone after the current Ashes series.

Lara compared the imminent departure of the two champion Australians with the retirements of West Indies fast bowling stalwarts Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding and suggested the world's number one team would feel mortal without them.

"One of things that's going to happen is there will be -a loss of respect mightn't be the right word  but people will get a lot of confidence and back themselves when the likes of McGrath and Shane Warne are gone," he told 'The Age'.

"You can mirror it to the West Indies team. (Curtly) Ambrose and (Courtney) Walsh and Ian Bishop are very good fast bowlers, but the fact that Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding left.A lot of other teams felt they could compete," the master batsman said.

After Warne bowled England opener Andrew Strauss to capture his 700th Test wicket yesterday, Lara said, "I'm glad it wasn't me, but it's amazing.

"It's testimony to the fact he has mastered the art of bowling and he's someone everyone around the world has great respect for. As a batsman and fellow cricketer I think he has done a tremendous job," he further stated.

"He must have very good reasons, but I honestly feel he could have spent a couple more years and maybe come out to the Caribbean for the last time. He's been great for the game and a very good friend, we've had great battles together," Lara said.