Early peek at Ahmed helps rival Fawad Ahmed may have been better off under wraps for now, argues Bryce McGain. One-time Test leg-spinner Bryce McGain believes the Australian selectors might have missed a trick by giving England an early look at a potential Ashes trump card, Fawad Ahmed, in the one-day series. Though Alastair Cook and Ian Bell have been rested for the ODI series, which starts at Headingley on Friday night (Melbourne time), the England squad still contains a handful of Test batsmen in Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root and Jonathan Trott. Ahmed made a promising start to his international career, bowling with admirable control and taking three wickets in the second Twenty20 international against England, and backing up with 1-39 from 10 overs in the ODI against Scotland. The selectors have indicated Ahmed, 31, is in contention to play in the home Ashes and McGain believes they would have been better off hiding him from English view. "I wouldn't be playing him in these games," said McGain, one of 13 spinners to have played Test cricket for Australia since the retirement of Shane Warne. I'd be keeping him up my sleeve and concealing him, because what this does is allow England to gather a whole lot of information, to get to know his temperament and what he does. If we're dead-set determined to win back the Ashes, I would be doing everything possible. England don't play leg-spin well, they haven't since Clarrie Grimmett debuted at the SCG in 1925. Fawad could be a real trump card, so let's hold onto him until the Gabba. The counter view is that Ahmed's extended audition, first with Australia A in southern Africa and then for the limited-overs phase of the British summer, has given him time to settle, both at international level and within the team. He is also likely to tour India for next month's limited-overs series. "It's about learning what international cricket's about and that takes time," Australian captain Michael Clarke said of Ahmed before the ODI in Leeds. Recent evidence suggests leg-spin remains a blind spot for England; part-timer Steve Smith dismissed Bell twice during the Ashes. Ahmed has been in the headlines this week not just because of his bowling, but because Cricket Australia and major sponsor Carlton & United Breweries granted him special dispensation not to wear the VB logo on his playing shirt. Ahmed is a committed Muslim who does not drink or promote alcohol.