Vaughan has to play - Warne

10:24am Wednesday 8th October 2008

Shane Warne believes England still need Michael Vaughan to bat at number three because he has doubts over Ian Bell.

Vaughan handed over the leadership reins to Kevin Pietersen after the Test series defeat by South Africa and has been left out of the forthcoming tour to India, but Warne remains convinced England will be a better side in next summer's Ashes series with Vaughan back in at the top of the order.

Warne said: "I remember him coming to Australia in 2002 and he played unbelievably - right up there with Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar in the way he played against us in our conditions. He is still the best number three that England have got."

He added: "I have still got some doubts about Ian Bell and a couple of others.

"Michael Vaughan needs to be back in the side for England to have their best side on the field. England will be a stronger side with Michael Vaughan in it, that's for sure."

Warne is in London to promote his new book - Shane Warne's Century - in which he lists the top 100 players he competed with and against through his career.

Vaughan was named 54th and Warne rates him the best English captain he faced.

"He was a very good communicator, the way he gelled the troops, and he got the best out of some players," said Warne.

Warned named India's 'Little Master' Sachin Tendulkar at number one, ahead the West Indies' Brian Lara and Curtly Ambrose. The leading Englishman was Graham Gooch at 14.

"Tendulkar was the hardest player I found to bowl to," said Warne. "Graham Gooch was the best English player I played against. He could enforce himself on the game, there was class about the way he played and he was a competitor."

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