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'I’d Be Trying to Convince..'- Naseer Hussain Urges Joe Root To Bat at Three in Manchester Test

Rajgeeta Yadav

image-ljxw82gnJoe Root [AP]

After the English vice-captain, Ollie Pope's shoulder injury at Lord's, England has been grappling with the dilemma of finding a suitable senior player to fill the No.3 spot in the Ashes 2023. Their problem seems serious, with the experiment of placing Harry Brook at that position during the first innings at Headingley proving unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, former England captain Naseer Hussain has suggested that Joe Root, the ex-skipper, should consider taking up the spot at No.3, a move he believes could bolster England's batting in Manchester Test. 


Here's What Hussain stated

“I’d be trying to convince Joe Root to bat at No.3. They may not do it. He said before the game (third Test) actually, Joe, in the press conference, 'I’m quite happy to move to No.3'."

“And then obviously, Brook did it, but I would be trying to convince Joe Root to go out and bat No.3. He’s England’s best player. He will end up England’s greatest-ever batter, and that’s where he should be coming in, one down.”

Hussain believes that Root could excel there once again and provide the team with much-needed stability. However, the legendary batter had made a deliberate decision to demote himself to No. 4 after his initial stint at No. 3. 

Having found his rhythm and comfort in that position, he had been batting there for quite a while, establishing himself as a reliable middle-order mainstay. Root had previously expressed his reluctance to return to the No. 3 spot, firmly asserting that No.4 four was his preferred position.

Root has batted 59 innings at number three, though his record is significantly poorer there than it is at number four. Statistically, the talismanic batter averages a modest 39.67 at three, nearly 13 runs short of that at number four.

So, in such a scenario, the hosts would be facing conundrum of who to give the number three slot in the penultimate face-off at the Old Trafford.