Joe Root finally concedes he needs to step up and help fix England’s broken top order

Concerns over England’s weak top three has prompted the Ashes hosts to reshuffle their line up, in a bid to combat Australia’s fearsome pace bowlers, days before the first Test at Edgbaston.

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England captain Joe Root intends to bat at No. 3 in the Ashes, after volunteering to return to the top order against Australia.

Root has decided he is ready to resume his former position at first drop and informed team management following last week’s victory over Ireland, according to the UK-based Press Association.

Head coach Trevor Bayliss has long argued the team’s best batsman — which is undeniably Root — should bat in the top three but did not need to persuade the captain on this occasion.

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Root has made it clear he feels happier batting at four when he leads the side but the head of the innings has simply not functioned since he relinquished the responsibility last August.

Joe Root will play at first drop for England in this year’s Ashes series.

Since Root dropped a place in the order nine Tests ago several of options have been tried — including Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Denly — but none have settled the debate and now Root is ready to step back up to a position from which he scored a Test best 254 against Pakistan in 2016.

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That means inexperienced Surrey pair Rory Burns and Jason Roy are set to continue to open the innings at Edgbaston on Thursday, with Denly likely switching with Root to face up at four.

It is another change for the hosts who find themselves in the unique position of having to refocus of their biggest home Test series less than a month after becoming World Champions.

Joe Denly has failed to convince in his brief spell in England’s top three.

The impact of the emotional and physical toll of a triumph that was secured in such dramatic fashion at Lord’s is an unknown going in to the Ashes, with England’s managing director Ashley Giles admitting he was concerned about the effects of a draining seven week competition.

Giles admitted England coach Trevor Bayliss endured several sleepless nights during a campaign which at one point seemed destined for failure until it was revived by a tournament-defining victory over of India which kept their semi-final hopes alive.

A World Cup hangover seemed very real when, in their first Test after lifting the World Cup trophy, England were rolled for 85 in a stunning display at Lord’s by unheralded Irish quick Tim Murtagh.

Giles admitted that the World Cup had sapped the squad in many ways but insisted an Ashes campaign would be enough to lift their spirits.

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“(There was) undoubtedly a hangover,” Giles said.

“The emotional and physical strain of that seven weeks and particularly the final — I worried how we would pick them up if we lost. Fortunately we didn’t.

“But a week afterwards heading into a Test match against Ireland was difficult for them.

“But I think by those guys wanting to play in that match and wanting to get some Test cricket under their belts shows the importance they hold the Ashes in and hopefully that’s done them some good.”

The Ashes will be Bayliss’ farewell after a four-year stint in charge of England, with Giles confirming that a caretaker coach will be called on for their upcoming tour of New Zealand.

But Bayliss won’t be asked to push on for another series, with Giles admitting he had endured a draining northern summer despite the ultimate success of World Cup glory.

“No, I think Trev’s done and I mean that in the nicest possible way,” Giles said.

“He may seem always horizontal on the outside but he cares a lot and he’s had some sleepless nights through this summer.

“He’s a good guy and I think he’s done it the right way.

Root looked rusty and fatigued during England’s extraordinary Test match against Ireland.

“He’s set himself a goal of getting to the end of this Ashes and then letting someone else take over. Hopefully he can hand over on the back of a great summer and the World Cup and Ashes would be unprecedented.”

Meanwhile, England look set to unleash talismanic paceman Jimmy Anderson at Fortress Edgbaston with the record-breaking quick seemingly passing a fitness test on Monday.

The 36-year-old was considered to be in severe doubt for the Ashes opener having suffered a calf injury at the start of July which ruled him out of England’s Test win over Ireland last week.

However, he looked sharp as ever as he rolled his arm over as part of an optional training session — with only fellow veteran quick Stuart Broad and explosive keeper-batsman Jos Buttler taking part.

James Anderson (calf) bowling at Edgbaston. Looking good. @SkySportsNews pic.twitter.com/qF2crRCklA

— James Cole (@jamescolesky) July 29, 2019

Anderson then carried out a fitness test in the middle of Edgbaston with a member of the England staff keeping watchful eye as the 148-Test veteran — with his right calf still swathed in a compression sock — underwent a series of sprints.

The exercise lasted a mere ten minutes, before Anderson took part in a fielding drill — the devastating fast bowler appeared satisfied with his output in proving his fitness.

Originally published as Joe Root finally concedes he needs to step up and help fix England’s broken top order