Rashid in the frame for Test debut

England are considering a Test debut for legspinning allrounder Adil Rashid as part of a radical move that would see current No.8 Moeen Ali promoted to opener, according to a UK media report.

The Ashes winners named a 14-man squad on Sunday for the final Test against Australia at The Oval, starting on August 20, with Jimmy Anderson returning after missing the fourth Test due to injury.

Quick Single: Anderson racing clock to be fit for The Oval

It remains to be seen if Anderson will be fit enough to regain his place in the XI, but the most intriguing selection could be that of uncapped Yorkshireman Rashid.

With England looking to bolster their spin stocks ahead of three Tests against Pakistan in the UAE later this year, former Test batsman Mark Butcher has suggested the home side give Rashid his first taste of Test cricket at The Oval next week.

Butcher doubts England will risk Anderson given the series is already won and says the match provides the perfect opportunity for Rashid and offspinner Moeen to bowl together ahead of the UAE tour.

"If conditions are as they have been at The Oval over the last few weeks - very, very dry and very, very abrasive - then you are thinking reverse swing, pace and spin," Butcher told Sky Sports.

"You may even look at playing two spinners as that’s without any doubt something England will have to do when they play against Pakistan.

"It might be a good chance to see how you can get two spinners in the team and with Ben Stokes your ready-made allrounder it might mean leaving out one of the quicks."

The Daily Mail is reporting that while out-of-form opener Adam Lyth is likely to be given another chance at The Oval, England are considering a plan to eventually replace the left-hander with Moeen at the top of the order.

Watch: Moeen flays Australia's bowlers

That would create room for them to boost their spin attack by including Rashid, with Moeen's off-spin having taken just nine wickets at almost 50 during the Ashes.

While Moeen's bowling hasn't been overly effective against Australia, his batting in the No.8 position has given them great impetus down the order and he heads into the final Test second only to Joe Root as England's leading run-scorer for the series.

Moeen spent his first year as a Test player batting at No.6, scoring his maiden century against Sri Lanka at Headingley, and has averaged 32 in 20 innings as an opener in ODI cricket.

Lyth, on the other hand, has been short of runs against the Australians and will head into the final Test - should he be selected in the final XI - averaging 12 from seven innings.

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Lyth has been short of runs during the Ashes // Getty Images

Rashid has already played 11 ODIs and six T20 internationals, the first of which came way back in 2009, and has been a feature of England's Test squad since he was picked for their tour of the West Indies earlier in the year.

He's taken 22 wickets at 26 in five first-class matches for Yorkshire this season and - like Moeen - could be a more-than-useful addition to the lower order given he has 10 first-class hundreds to his name and an average of 35.

Quick Single: Maxwell, Rashid ton up for Yorkshire

He had mixed results in England's five-match ODI series against New Zealand that preceded the Ashes, taking eight wickets - including 4-55 in the first match at Edgbaston - but conceding more than 6.5 runs an over.

That series highlighted the concern of some that Rashid's pace through the air is too slow for Test level, the theory being that international quality batsmen have enough time to play their shots even if they're unable read the 27-year-old's variations out of the hand.

The Mail reported that England coach Trevor Bayliss "is very keen to get Rashid in the side" as he and assistant Paul Farbrace "recognise that Moeen’s off-spin remains a work in progress and needs supplementing with the all-round ability of Rashid".

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