England must give youth a chance to help cover World Cup bases, says Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan has called on England to use their final 18 ODIs before next year’s World Cup to blood youngsters in positions he believes the world No1 team lack depth.

Jos Buttler’s magical, measured century guided England to their first 5-0 whitewash of Australia but skipper Eoin Morgan, one of the batsmen dismissed as England stumbled to 27 for four to leave them requiring the keeper-batsman’s miracle work, admitted they do not possess another player who could have dug them out of such a hole.

England’s next top scorer made 20 and Buttler eked out the 92 runs required from the final two wickets. It was the slowest by 34 balls of his six centuries, the first six he hit was to reach his century (in the company of No11 Jake Ball, who survived 10 balls to secure the one-wicket win) and the first time he has faced 100 balls. It was a clinic in managing a chase.

Man-of-the-series Buttler is one of England’s three most important players, according to Vaughan, alongside the spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, who took 12 Australian wickets apiece.

As a result, they share England’s individual and team record for most wickets falling to spin in a series, while Rashid overtook Graeme Swann to become England’s leading ODI wicket-taker and moved to a career-high No8 in the ODI bowling rankings (Moeen is 13th).

Vaughan is particularly worried about cover for Rashid, due to the importance of wrist-spin in modern ODI cricket, and cites Mason Crane, who has Test and ODI caps, as an option to be blooded as his understudy. Lancashire’s Matt Parkinson, who is with England Lions, would be another candidate.

“The biggest compliment I can give this team is they haven’t missed Ben Stokes,” said Vaughan. “They didn’t miss him in Australia [where they won 4-1] and they haven’t here. That’s how good they have become. They are not reliant at all on the charismatic all-rounder.

“You would say now Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Jos Buttler are the ones you cross your fingers and hope they don’t get injured before the World Cup. They’re the three that I don’t see players to replace that style. It’s been proven over two or three years that the others can all be replaced.”

England have an extremely settled squad, with — form and fitness permitting — as many as 14 of the 15-man squad for the competition settled. When Stokes returns, one of the in-form batsmen, most likely Alex Hales, will make way, while Chris Woakes expects to be fit to face India next month, too.

Those two, Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood, David Willey and Tom Curran provide seam options of variety, while Sam Curran and Craig Overton received ODI debuts in this series. There remains a possibility that Jofra Archer could be eligible, while Vaughan would like to see Warwickshire quick Olly Stone given an opportunity.

“I think it’s worth trying out a few other players, particularly in the bowling department,” he said. “I wouldn’t be shy of trying Olly Stone. I wouldn’t be shy of trying a leg-spinner, give Mason Crane a couple of games, just in case Rashid picks up an injury. Leg-spin is so important in this era. Spinners who turn it both ways are invaluable.

“Just give a few players a few caps. You have to think about what-if scenarios. What if Adil Rashid gets injured? I know that sounds negative but it could happen. It’s about ticking every box and planning for every scenario.”

Vaughan, who captained the last England team to really appeal beyond the game’s core fanbase, believes this side has the opportunity to have a similar impact as his 2005 Ashes winners. With players like Buttler and Rashid in the side, it is easy to see why.