Ashes 2017/18: Michael Vaughan Backs Three Unlikely Individuals to Make the Cut
Sep 20, 2017 at 3:21 PM
With every passing day, England’s worries about the Ashes later this year in Australia seem to grow larger in stature. Having beaten South Africa and West Indies in the home summer, there remains plenty to ponder for the current holders of the urn.
At the helm of affairs, they have a captain who is just two series’ old and doesn’t have much experience as a leader. In contrast, his counterpart in Australia is someone who has seen all the highs and lows with his team in the recent past. More than anything else though, it is the team combination which will worry England the most. With just days left for the squad to be named for the series, there are at least 3-4 slots up for grabs in the playing XI.
The likes of Dawid Malan and Tom Westley haven’t quite fully lived to their potential and grabbed their chances with both hands. If England opts for the safer route, there is always the option of picking the experienced duo of Alex Hales and Jos Buttler. At five in the county circuit, Hales has great numbers to boost his case.
Buttler too as a batsman can be relied upon to do well in Australia. According to former skipper Michael Vaughan, the English selectors must invest in Hales, Buttler and wrist spinner Adil Rashid for the Ashes tour, later this year.
“I’m looking at three players – Adil Rashid is one, but I think he’s a long way off,” said Vaughan. “I don’t think they’re going to look at him. I think it will be Mason Crane on the plane to Australia. “But he would be better off suited on the Lions trip where he can play. If he’s carrying drinks out there, it’s pointless.”
Backing Hales to make the cut, he said,
“If Alex Hales strikes two or three hundred in the next few weeks he’ll definitely be on the minds of the selectors. Number five, that’s where I’d look at Hales in Test cricket.” “The other one is Jos Buttler – he hasn’t played Test cricket for a while, he’s got to put himself back in contention.”