Denly to open for England

London, September 2

Joe Denly will swap places with struggling opener Jason Roy in the England batting order for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia in Manchester. Roy, who was handed his Test debut after an impressive World Cup-winning campaign, has failed to deliver at the top of the order in the first three Tests of the series, scoring 57 runs in six innings with a highest score of 28.

Denly’s patient half-century in the second innings of the third Test, in which he shared a 126-run stand with captain Joe Root, set up the win for the hosts. “I got a call from Joe Root after a bit of time off and he said he’d like for me to go at the top of the order and try and get us off to a good start,” Denly said. “Obviously, Jason’s going to bat at No. 4. With Jason in the team, I think we’re a better team for sure,” he added.

The fourth Test starts on Wednesday with the series level at 1-1. The final match at the Oval in London begins on September 12. 

Waugh rejoins as mentor 

Former captain Steve Waugh has re-joined the Australian team as mentor for the remaining two Tests of the Ashes series to pep up the confidence level of the visitors after the Leeds loss. Waugh arrived in Manchester yesterday, returning to the Australian camp after being part of the first two Tests as mentor. “Guys like Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh, not only have they got a great presence within the group but they’re great psychologists as well. They’ve been in the cauldron before, they’ve seen it before,” Australia coach Justin Langer said. — Agencies