England To Play Joe Denly As Opener In 4th Ashes Test, Drop Jason Roy Down Order

England look done with the experiment of Jason Roy as Test opener as Joe Denly revealed on Monday that he has been asked by captain Joe Root to open the innings with Rory Burns in the fourth Ashes Test, starting on Wednesday at Old Trafford in Manchester. Jason Roy, who managed scores of 9, 8, 0, 2, 10 and 28 in last three Test matches, has been dropped to number four position. "I got a call from (captain) Joe Root after a bit of time off and he said he'd like me to go at the top of the order and try to get us off to a good start," Joe Denly told BBC Radio.

Denly scored his first-half century of the series in England's miraculous run chase in the third Test, inspired by Ben Stokes, which levelled the five-match series at 1-1.

Denly made scores of six and 17 as an opener on his Test debut against the West Indies in January before dropping down the order. But he thinks his partnership with Rory Burns could enable Roy to attack the Australian bowling.

"Obviously Jason is going to bat four and that's great for English cricket," said the 33-year-old batsman.

"With Jason Roy in the team we are a better team and with him coming in at four, hopefully with the new ball worn off and myself and Rory Burns doing our job at the top, it allows him to come in and play his way. He's a great player to have there."

Australia won the first Ashes Test by a margin of 251 runs, before England levelled the five-match series with a one-wicket win in the third Test.

(With AFP inputs)

Topics mentioned in this article

England Cricket Team Australia Cricket Team Joe Denly Jason Roy Old Trafford, Manchester The Ashes 2019 Cricket