Angus Fraser has admitted that England might be better off leaving Steven Finn out of their starting XI for the fourth Ashes Test, which starts in Melbourne on 26 December.

While coach Andy Flower and the team brains trust ponder changes to the team that copped a 267-run loss at the hands of Australia in Perth's third Test, former England fast bowler Fraser believes right-arm seamer Finn might be dropped, with one of Ajmal Shahzad or Tim Bresnan replacing him.

"I think Steven's position is in doubt," said Fraser on Wednesday.

"Steven hasn't bowled as well as he can and he knows that.

"They're pretty intense affairs Ashes matches and while Steven has played a bit of Test cricket last summer I don't think he'll have ever encountered anything like this."

The 21-year-old pace ace starred in the drawn first Test, claiming a career-best six for 125 in the Aussies' second innings, and has since gone on to be the series' top wicket-taker.

His 14 scalps, however, have come at a poor average of 33.14 and his economy rate of 4.30 to the over is too shabby for Fraser's liking.

"He has leaked too many runs. He is the top wicket-taker in the series, which is quite an achievement and not something to be sniffed at. But has be bowled as well as his wicket column suggests? I would suggest not," added Fraser.

"He knows that. He's not stupid and I think most people who've watched the series closely would agree with that.