Chappell asks Root to bat No.3 for The Ashes

Sydney, Dec 6 : Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has suggested England skipper Joe Root to bat at three during the upcoming Ashes considering his good run of form in Test cricket this year.Root has been the top run-scorer in Test cricket in 2021, amassing 1455 runs from 23 innings at an average of 66.

13 while coming at number four.Root is number four with an average of 53.37, compared to 38.66 for number three.Root averages 38 in Australia with six half-centuries, compared to 50.12 with 23 centuries and 50 half-centuries in his overall Test career."The question I would ask Joe is why dont you bat at three?.Its better to bat at one for fewer than two, as I have always believed.

No one has really proved that they can really bat at three (for England)," said Chappell on an Ashes preview program for Wide World of Sports (WWOS)."Joe has got all the credentials to bat at three, theres never going to be a better time for him to bat at No.3 because hes in terrific form, but he just wont seem to bat at No.3.He might be lucky in Australia, and No.3 could be (Dawid Malan), and Malan I believes a decent player.If Malan has a good series at three, and Joe is away from the bowling for a while, then it has a chance of working.

But, I wouldnt be trusting to luck, Id be saying if I was Joe, Im batting at three," added Chappell, who represented Australia in 75 Tests.The 78-year-old further took a swipe at Roots captaincy, saying that he would be heavily dependent on inputs from all-rounder Ben Stokes.

"I wouldn’t worry too much regarding his captaincy, as I don’t think it’s very good.He has an imagination problem, which is important in Australia.

He has the best chance of being captain if he gets a lot of advice from Ben Stokes.Stokes is known for being a very aggressive player.

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