ENG vs IND: Michael Vaughan backs Ashwin's inclusion for Oval Test

India were left black and blue after a mauling from England in the third Test at Headingley. Having bowled out for 78 in the first innings, India didn’t have much left in the tank. They showed little resistance in the second innings but lost their last 8 wickets for 63 runs to lose the match by an innings and 76 runs.

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Given that the surface was offering plenty of turn to Moeen Ali, many felt that India should have included Ravichandran Ashwin in the team. The next match will be played at the Oval, another surface that will aid the spinners thus former England skipper Michael Vaughan has asked the Indian team management to not repeat the mistake and include Ashwin in the team.

“But what India do have is an off-spin bowler ranked No. 2 in the world and a batsman good enough to have made five Test centuries in Ravichandran Ashwin. He should have played at Headingley against England’s five left-handers and he must play at The Oval," wrote Hussain for Daily Mail.

Vaughan feels that Ashwin will add a lot of balance to the side with his extra batting skills. The 46-year-old said India can swap Ishant Sharma with Ravichandran Ashwin.

“So the most likely solution is that Ashwin will come in for a seamer, most likely Ishant Sharma who struggled at Headingley and join Ravindra Jadeja in a more balanced looking side with a deeper batting line-up as long as Jadeja recovers from his knee injury."

With the series tied at 1-1, teams will look to take an unassailable lead in the fourth Test that gets underway on September 2 at The Oval, London.