England batting order 'all wrong': Ex-skipper

England need an overhaul of their batting order in order to remain competitive in the Magellan Ashes, says former captain Bob Willis.

Willis, along with Australian Test greats Jason Gillespie and Chris Rogers, called on the tourists to push wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow up the batting order.

"He has got to bat five," Willis told Optus Sport's Stumps program.

"England have got this batting order all wrong, Bairstow is far too low.

"Moeen Ali at six and Malan at seven. Batting at number seven Bairstow is wasted down there.

"You need your best players up the order and for England that's Jonny Bairstow."

Bairstow has trailed only captain Joe Root and opener Alastair Cook in output with the bat since the 2015 Ashes. Root has scored 2,665 Test runs at 51.25 since England took ownership of the Ashes urn, while Cook has added 2345 at 44.24. Bairstow has scored 2185 at 45.52, some 500 runs more than Moeen Ali.

Rogers agreed with Willis in the need to promote Bairstow up the order, although he had his doubts about his previous success in the role.

"An interesting stat is that he hasn't done that well at number five," Rogers said.

"From what I hear he gets a bit jittery when he has to go up the order.

"The coach has to say to him that's your job and that's what we need from you in our side."

Bairstow averages 30.15 from 19 innings at No.5, compared to 45.91 in 25 innings batting at six. He has spent the most time at his current spot of seven, with 33 innings for 1176 runs at 40.55.

The fact four of England's top six are left-handed is another area of concern for the tourists given the form of Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon, and Rogers said a radical solution may be required.

"I wonder if they're thinking take the gloves off Bairstow, put him at five and bring Ben Foakes in to keep and bat seven as another right-hander," Rogers said.

Willis also called for the England captain to take the traditional spot of number three.

"If I was a selector I'd say Joe Root you're batting three," Willis said.

"The best batsman in the side should be batting at three in my opinion.

"There is plenty for Joe Root to learn. He has to get this batting order right."

Root has previously resisted calls to bat himself at No.3 and said he would continue to keep himself at second drop in the England order.

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21