INTERNATIONAL CRICKET

Ben Stokes wants Joe Root to play at No.4 in the Test team

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England’s newly appointed Test captain Benjamin Stokes has asked his predecessor and friend Joe Root to revert to his original position of No.4 on the Test side.

Stokes feels that Root plays well at No.4 and that he himself will be there at No.6.

This selection is going on for the upcoming home series against New Zealand next month.

Root had a sensational 2021 where he hit 6 Test hundreds.

Due to England’s constant batting problems in the recent past, Root decided to come in at No.3.

Although Root did pretty well at No.3, shelling out 2 more hundreds in the Caribbean, Stokes still wants Root to bat at No.4 and not change positions.

The main problem for Stokes, however, is finding batsmen at positions three and five.

Either he can put in Jonny Bairstow at No.3 or select from other new batsmen such as Tom Haines to open with Alex Lees and have Zak Crawley come in at No.3.

This can then push Bairstow into No.5 which again has contenders in Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence and Harry Brook.

Stokes also talked a bit about the bowling unit where he has already placed James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Other players who can be included but are recovering from injuries are Jofra Archer, Olly Stone and Mark Wood.

Sam Curran can be drafted into the side as he has returned to action.

England are now trying to make themselves the best possible XI against New Zealand and will have to see what options are available to them.

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