Lloyd believes Australia captain Waugh's stint in county cricket will allow him to gain vital knowledge of the England squad ahead of the Ashes series this winter.

Waugh will play for Kent from 21 August until the end of the season.

Lloyd also fears it will give him the chance to sharpen up his batting in time to face England.

"We're slitting our own throats by giving these Aussies some free match practice a couple of months before taking them on in the Ashes," Lloyd told Australian newspaper The Courier Mail.

"Lord's must have declared a period of Glasnost in which hostilities with Australia are suspended and replaced by a new spirit of comradeship.

"Why are we giving Steve Waugh an early peek at our best players in county cricket at such a critical stage of the build-up to this winter?

"Not only that, but we're paying him."

The MCC, which is based at Lord's, said only that Waugh's appointment was "entirely outside" its remit.

With Stuart MacGill moving to Nottinghamshire and Waugh's brother Mark going to Essex, there are almost 20 Australians involved in county competition this season.