Root to return to No.3 for first Ashes Test

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

PA understands Root has decided he is ready to return to his former position at first-wicket down and informed team management following last week's victory over Ireland.

Head coach Trevor Bayliss has long argued the team's best batsman - which is Root by a considerable margin - should bat in the top three but did not need to persuade the skipper on this occasion.

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

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.

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

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, from whom Root sought advice from during last summer's KFC Big Bash on converting 50s into 100s, has previously suggested he should move up to first drop for the Ashes.

Root is no stranger to the position; he has batted there 40 times in Tests, averages 40.57 with two hundreds, and filled the role as recently as last year's home series against India.

"They have a lot of middle order players – Bairstow, (Jos) Buttler, Stokes – all these guys can bat well in the middle, (but) they haven't had a solid number three for a couple of years now," he said.

"So I'd be tempted, if I was England, to lock Joe Root into number three. He's obviously coming off a good World Cup as well, looks like he's in really good control of his game, so now might be the best time for him to move up into that spot.

"The bottom line, I'd be thinking about what's best for their team… If he thinks it's in England's best interest to bat at number three, then he should bat at number three."

Root will have a familiar face as his vice-captain during the Ashes, with all-rounder Stokes restored to the position.

The 28-year-old was stripped of responsibility following a late night brawl in Bristol but has impressed with the maturity he has shown around the camp since being cleared on a charge of affray.

Stokes says he will relish being Root's deputy.

"I love having that responsibility and it is something that I thoroughly enjoy doing. I take pride in being vice-captain. Being part of that think-tank is pretty cool."

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

First Test: August 1-5,Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval