"I would honestly look at someone like Mitchell Marsh to open the batting" - Michael Vaughan suggests a left-field opening choice for Australia 

Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels that Australia should consider promoting Mitchell Marsh to the top of the order for the upcoming Ashes.

Although the Aussies have found success with the veteran opening duo of Usman Khawaja and David Warner in Tests, Marsh's recent promotion to the top of the order in ODIs proved to be fruitful.

He had a splendid set of scores in Australia's recent 2-1 success over India. Over the course of his Test career, Marsh has predominantly batted in the middle order. He has played at No. 3 once, scoring 21 runs.

Vaughan opined that if Marsh features at the top for Australia, it will bring an aggressive outlook as well as introduce a left-hand-right-hand opening pair.

He told The Age:

“I would honestly look at someone like Mitchell Marsh to open the batting because it gets him in the team. He can bowl you a few hours. He’s done all right against England. He’s a right-hander and he might go down the aggressive route."

Vaughan continued:

"No bowler likes to go for runs. And everyone else who has been here opening the batting for Australia in the last few series has struggled, so why not try something a bit different?"

Australia have included Warner in their squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) final and Ashes despite his shaky form. Cameron Bancroft, arguably the most in-form opening batter in Australia, was snubbed at the veteran's expense.

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"Anderson is bowling better than ever" - Michael Vaughan

James Anderson is bowling in a great rhythm, as evidenced by his recent stint at the top of the Test rankings for bowlers. He is among the wickets in the ongoing County Championship as well, preparing to spearhead the English seam attack that also comprises Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad among other candidates.

Noting that Anderson and Broad will be all over the Australian left-handed opening pair, Vaughan said:

"Anderson is bowling better than ever. It’s a pun that everyone uses, but he does seem to be getting better with age. He’s got it on a string and loves bowling to left-handers. If I was Australia, I would really, really study the top of their order. Why would you want to throw out two left-handers to Broad and Anderson?"

Vaughan continued:

"If you’re doing your research and you’re looking at the way that those two bowl at left-handers, particularly in English conditions, why would you give those two great bowlers exactly what they want at the top of the order to get themselves up and running?"

David Warner particularly had a forgettable time against Stuart Broad in the 2019 Ashes in England. The left-handed opening batter was dismissed eight times by Broad as the Australian struggled to cope with the angle from around the wicket, with the movement in the air and off the pitch not helping his case as well.

The upcoming Ashes series is slated to begin on June 16 post the WTC final between India and Australia.

Should Australia consider opening the batting with Mitchell Marsh? Let us know what you think.