Nasser Hussain wants Joe Root to bat at No.3 in 4th Ashes Test.

Former England captain, Nasser Hussain, expressed his hope for the team management to promote Joe Root to the No.3 position in the upcoming fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford. The spot was previously held by Ollie Pope, who unfortunately had to withdraw from the series due to a shoulder injury sustained during the second Test at Lord’s. In the third Test at Headingley, England experimented with Harry Brook in the first innings and Moeen Ali in the second, but neither had a significant impact in that position.

In contrast, Joe Root has performed remarkably well throughout the series, amassing 232 runs at an average of 46.40 across the three matches. His outstanding contributions include an unbeaten 118 in the first innings of the opening Test at Edgbaston. It’s worth noting that Root achieved all these runs while batting at No.4.

Nasser Hussain said “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 (Root), 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.”

The numbers don’t back up Hussain though. Root averages only 39.67 from 59 innings at No.3, while he averages 52.24 and has scored 19 of his 30 Test centuries from No.4.