ASHES 2017-18

Steve Waugh wants Henriques in Ashes side

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

"Moises Henriques has been in good form the last couple years in domestic cricket (and) I think he's ready to play Test match cricket again," said Waugh. © Getty

Steve Waugh, the legendary former Australian captain, believes allrounder Moises Henriques should be considered for Australia's Ashes team.

Australia's No.6 position is seemingly open with allrounders Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright and Marcus Stoinis seen as the frontrunners. A trio of Sheffield Shield matches before the first Test starting on November 23 is seen as auditions for places in the Australian team.

Waugh, who played 168 Tests from 1985-2004, said selectors should consider Henriques, who played the last of his four Tests in Sri Lanka last year. "Moises Henriques has been in good form the last couple years in domestic cricket (and) I think he's ready to play Test match cricket again," Waugh told Big Sports Breakfast radio. "He's a very good player. It's good he's put his name back up there again. No.6 is up for debate, I guess it's Maxwell or Stoinis or maybe Henriques or maybe a couple of other options there."

Australia has other selection issues, notably at wicketkeeper with incumbent Matthew Wade under fire after recent struggles. Waugh believed it was a "conundrum". "Again we're talking about who is going to be the keeper, but they tend to focus on the 'keeper scoring runs not how he's taking the ball," Waugh said. "(Peter) Nevill was doing a great job and got dropped and now (Matthew) Wade's actually improved his 'keeping and now they're talking about dropping him.

"(Nevill) was the fall guy last time. He's a fantastic cricketer. But you've got to be fair to Matthew Wade now. He kept pretty well in the subcontinent. It's difficult to know where they go from there."

Waugh said England would struggle without star allrounder Ben Stokes, who is in doubt for the Ashes after an off-field indiscretion last month. "England without Ben Stokes, if he doesn't come, I don't think they can win the Ashes," he said. "I think if it was anyone in the Australian side, they wouldn't be picked. You can't do that these days in public. It just didn't look good and it's a bad image for the game.

"I can't see England winning and it's too much pressure on (Stuart) Broad and (James) Anderson, and they're getting a bit older, and I can't see them playing five Test matches straight," he added. "I think Australia will win 3-1."

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