Jason Roy and Joe Denly to swap spots for next Ashes Test

According to ESPNCricinfo, Joe Denly will be seen heralding the English innings along with Rory Burns in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford scheduled to begin from the September 4. The move comes even after considering Jason Roys paltry score of 57 runs in six innings so far, in the series, while his average as an opener in international Test cricket being an embarrassing 8.85. He has a solitary half-century to his name, which too came as a number three batsman against Ireland.

Joe Denly, on the other hand, has not had a very convincing series either. He has managed to get good starts in almost all his attempts but has failed to convert them into big scores. He has averaged 24.5 in the series, but his half-century in the second innings of the latest series showed signs of promise and the talent that he possesses.

However, the decision which seems to be more forced due to Roy’s performance rather than wanted naturally, may not serve Denly well considering he has hardly played as an opener in first-class cricket. He has only one century to his name at the top of the order in eight years, while having not even reached 50 in the last 14 matches he has opened the innings. 

Roy, however, does not have a very different story. Even though a specialist opener in white-ball cricket and a very good one at that, he has rarely opened for his county side and regularly plies his trade as a middle-over batsman. All these signals are hinting that England will have to wait a bit longer to find worthy successors for players of the mettle of Sir Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss.

As far as other changes are concerned, all-rounder Craig Overton has been included in the squad after James Anderson was confirmed to be ruled out for the remaining two matches having suffered a recurrence of his injury. While Chris Woakes has not had a bad series, he was particularly poor in the previous Test match, picking just two wickets and scoring a paltry six runs.

Overton, on the other hand, doesn’t boast of a very impressive record in the format either, but he shows tremendous fight on the pitch and has had a taste of the Ashes before. Either way, the one who plays will have to perform with the bat too to help their team reclaim the Ashes.