Former England off-spinner Graeme Swann urged national team skipper Joe Root to bat at number three against Australia in the impending Ashes 2017-18 series to make the hosts bowlers toil hard.
“I would have him at three,” Swann was quoted as saying by The Mirror.
In 14 Tests against Australia, Root scored 991 runs at the average of 41.29. He registered three-hundred and four half-centuries in 27 innings.
With first Ashes Test slated for November 23 in Brisbane, the 38-year-old Swann reiterated the change in the batting order could pressurise the Mitchell Starc-led bowling department owing to the contest of batting mainstay Root, who has been among runs at the top.
“I was a positive thinker, but when I saw Ricky Ponting walking in at three, you were put on the back foot because he was such a good player,” Swann maintained.
However, while batting at number four Root has garnered runs at the average of 54.4, which further saw him averaging at 45.3 when he bats at number four.
Swann believes if England team is looking forward to retaining the Ashes Urn, Root’s change in batting role could further prove a steppingstone for the visitors’ success.
“Joe’s the same – he intimidates bowlers when he walks out,” Swann added.
The 26-year-old Yorkshire-born Root is averaging 53.76 60 Tests. He smashed 13-hundred and 32 fifties in 110 innings.
Swann opinion came after England have had struggled so far to avail the services of top-order batsmen who could further extend the innings after one-down apart from Root.
The Northampton-born Swann, who played 60 Tests for England stated the stability in the batting order would pay rich dividends for the Three Lions, as Root is leading his side for the first time in the traditional series after Alastair Cook was relinquished from the post early this year.
While considering the recent home series against Windies which England won by 2-1, Root came to bat at number four in four innings which subsequently saw him crossing past the fifty-run mark.
In 109 Tests innings, Swann, who bagged 255 Test scalps at the average of 29.96 reiterated former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was the tough opponent to bowl at.
“Ricky Ponting, when I saw him bat at three, to me he was one of the greatest players that I played with in my time,” Swann asserted.
Swann hinted Ponting is the best example for Root to follow while shouldering the responsibility as a captain and then as a batsman.
“He was so proactive at number three, you’d lose an early wicket in that first over and suddenly the bowler’s on the back foot,” Swann concluded.
VIDEO OF THE DAY:
Swann, who made his Test debut against India at Chennai in December 2008, further played 79 ODIs and 39.