Despite a bumper Sheffield Shield round from the country’s top-order batsman, former Test captain Ian Chappell has brushed aside suggestions David Warner should play in the middle order in the Ashes.

Warner will be eligible for national selection from March 29 following a 12-month suspension for his role in the ball-tampering scandal, and looks short odds to return to the Test fold in the Ashes in August.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes that return should be in the middle order given the dangers of facing the moving new ball in the UK but Chappell cannot see the logic in moving Warner from a position in which he can do so much damage.

Every Test, ODI, T20I, and BBL match live. Get it all on Foxtel.

“To see the advantages that (an aggressive opening batsman) brings you, it’s enormous,” Chappell told Macquarie Sports Radio. “Warner can virtually win you a Test match in the first two hours of a game — why are you going to put him down in the middle order if he can do that?

“If you’re going to tell me that Bancroft, Harris … Burns and (Matthew) Renshaw are better suited to opening than Warner, I’m going to laugh in your face.

“He is likely to score 80, or on his really good days, 100 in the first session of a Test match. That just obliterates the opposition and gives confidence to the other players around Warner.

“You don’t sacrifice that for anything.”

‘EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING’: 26-year-old gun turns his back on South Africa

OPINION: Why Cameron Bancroft must go to England

SHIELD WRAP: Trio of Ashes hopefuls make big statement

TWO YEARS: Sri Lanka legend banned after anti-corruption investigation

Chappell comments came after Vaughan was quoted in The Daily Telegraph postulating Australia may get the best out of Warner in the UK – he averages 37 on the island, compared to a career average of 48.20 – batting him lower in the order against an older ball.

“One thing I’ll say about Warner is I wouldn’t necessarily think at this stage that he has to open the batting in England,” Vaughan said, with the publication noting the interview took place earlier this month rather than in the wake of round seven of the Sheffield Shield.

“He averages 22 in the first innings (in England). OK, he does well in the second innings, but does Warner have to open the batting against that Duke’s, moving ball?

“Maybe the Aussies might need to be smarter and he might fit in the middle somewhere.”