Vaughan says pick Rashid over Moeen, confidence important in Ashes

Should Moeen Ali get the nod?

The only dilemma that the England side face before the Investec Ashes is whether to pick Adil Rashid or Moeen Ali. Michael Vaughan, former captain of England when they won the Ashes in 2005, felt that two key changes should be made – Rashid should be picked over Moeen, and Gary Ballance and Ian Bell’s places should be exchanged in the batting order.

“I certainly would have Rashid in the squad and I'd be looking to play him,” Vaughan said. “I just think it would be something that Australia wouldn't expect. I think they're expecting to face Moeen. If England can surprise them and play just a little bit above the level they did against New Zealand, I think it will surprise Australia.”

Vaughan maintained that the element of surprise would be necessary to disturb the stable Aussie batting. “With the way that he bowls and the way England have really struggled to get rid of tails, it is something different that England might surprise Australia with.”

He feels that confidence is a big factor in the Ashes, and Rashid seems to be confident about his game at the moment. “I just look at Rashid the other day flicking them out at Durham. If he does well in the four-day game at Durham as well, I'd just throw him straight in as a young chap who's confident. He is on the crest of that one-day wave, so I'd just play him”, Vaughan said.

Rashid’s ability to cut through Australia’s tail is what makes him a much better pick than Moeen at the moment, especially because Rashid’s confidence is at a great level right now, and Moeen hasn’t been his best lately.

Of course, Vaughan cautioned against expecting too much out of Rashid too soon. He said that Rashid is not the finished product yet, but with a little guidance from the captain he could prove a great choice in the Ashes.

“I wouldn't expect him to whip through the Smiths and Clarkes in the first innings,” Vaughan said. “Any top-order player will probably attack him. And in the first innings, on good pitches, you would have to manage him very well. But with careful management and careful field settings he certainly can play a big part.”

Vaughan made it clear that this opinion of his in no way undermines Moeen’s ability or talent. “I think Moeen is terrific, I really do,” Vaughan said. “I think he's going to have years and years with the England side. But he has had a difficult time of it of late. He has not quite been as consistent and he has not been having the long spells as he has not been taking wickets.”

He reemphasized the importance of confidence in the upcoming matches. “When you go into an Ashes series you have to be so confident in your own ability and you have to be on top of that confidence level to compete. I just don't know if he's got the confidence level. He's not bowling enough overs for me to suggest that he's bowling with that fizz like he did last year.

“He bowled great against India. But you don't pick someone for what was happening last year. And if they go one-nil down it's going be a long series.”

Talking about the other change he would like to see, that of exchanging Ballance’s and Bell’s places in the order, “The way Ballance played against New Zealand was a concern but he's tough," Vaughan said. “He got good balls, but his feet weren't moving as well as he can. So I'd make the change. I'd put Gary at No. 4 and Bell at No. 3. I just think that every now and again Bell needs a prod and a poke. He should gain a lot of confidence by someone telling him he's No. 3.

"That could knock Gary's confidence, but I just think he's better suited at four. I look at the whole order and you can have left hand, right hand down the order. At the moment, we have three lefties at the top of the order. If you have three of one suit in any position of the order, you can get used to captaining against it."