'Settled' Root makes his preference felt

Joe Root has made it clear that he would prefer to stay in the No.4 position in England's Test batting order as they prepare for a home series with Sri Lanka.

England face the visiting Lankans in three Tests from May 19, and amid speculation that their premier batsman may be shifted up to No.3, Root himself has told reporters he is comfortable at second drop.

"I feel pretty settled at four but if they want to change things up we will have a discussion," he told media at a sponsor's day.

"I have not spoken to Trevor (Bayliss, coach) about it and I will have to see.

"I am happy at four and have had a good little run in there but we will have to wait and see what is best for the make-up of the side."

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England have struggled to fill the No.3 position adequately since the retirement of Jonathan Trott, who scored 3,109 runs at 45.72 in the crunch spot, with seven hundreds and 15 fifties.

Gary Ballance performed strongly as Trott's replacement initially, averaging 50 across 14 Tests, but his form fell away against a quality Australian pace attack during last year's Ashes and the Zimbabwe-born left-hander hasn't been able to convince Bayliss he is the man for the job since.

Ian Bell has averaged 53 at No.3 in 11 Tests since 2011, with two centuries, but he too felt the selectors' axe, dropped ahead of England's tour to South Africa last summer.

That decision afforded Nick Compton an opportunity over the four-Test series, and while he returned a passable 245 runs at 30, the possibility of Root moving to the crucial position remains a realistic one.  

Root meanwhile, has performed strongly at No.4 since being pushed up from third drop last year, averaging 53.53 in nine Tests with two hundreds and seven fifties.

Teammate Ben Stokes suggested the No.4 position suited Root's up-tempo batting style.

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"His record at four and five has been incredible," Stokes said. "I'd like him to stay at four because he's been so successful there and it suits his pace of batting."

Root need only look as far as Australia captain Steve Smith as a successful case study; since shifting up to No.3 last June to fill a problematic position for his side, Smith has scored four centuries in nine Tests and averaged 67.

The discussion is one of several taking place around England's middle-order, following the shock retirement of James Taylor due to a heart condition.

Jonny Bairstow's incredible County Championship hot streak has continued into 2016, and the Yorkshire product certainly has a case for a promotion of his own in England's middle-order, having spent the South Africa series coming in at No.7 while also handling the wicketkeeping duties.

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Bairstow, one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year for 2015, told the Mail on Sunday he was still learning to handle both responsibilities at Test level.

"I always knew it would be tough at first doing both at Test level," he said. "Matt Prior went through it.

"There is a period when you're learning and trying to adapt and for that reason there should be a bit of leeway.

"I only had one bad game with the gloves in South Africa as far as I'm concerned. OK, I might drop a couple of chances here and there but that doesn't make me a bad 'keeper. It doesn't mean I'm not trying to improve."