Vaughan, a risk worth taking

Though Michael Vaughan's recent record does not merit him a place in the England team, Australia would rather see a struggling Ian Bell or Owais Shah at No.3 instead of him in the upcoming Ashes, writes Lawrence Booth in his blog in the Guardian.

England tend not to beat Australia by playing it safe. They do it by going for broke, essentially by being un-English, by making the selections the opposition would least like to see. Four years ago this column was banging the drum for Pietersen for this very reason. Now it would like to get behind Vaughan. Because Australia would love it, just love it, if England's No3 this summer is either Ian Bell (who will surely come again in Test cricket) or Owais Shah (who may well not).