Ashes 2019: Joe Denly confirms he will swap places with Jason Roy in England batting order for fourth Test

Despite a gritty 50 in the third test batting at No 4, Denly will move up to open as England bit to kickstar Roy’s Test match career

Joe Denly has confirmed he will swap places with Jason Roy to open the batting for England with Rory Burns in the fourth Ashes Test.

Surrey’s Roy has struggled since being inserted at the top of the order, scoring just 62 runs in seven outings in that place.

But despite Australia figuring out ways to get Roy out during the series, England are not giving up on the World Cup-winning batsman yet, believing he can still succeed in the longer form of the game, but may prosper without facing the new ball.

Rather than call up another opener, Denly, 33, despite making a gritty 50 in the third Test, will move up the order.

“I got a call from (captain) Joe Root after a bit of time off and he said he’d like me to go at the top of the order and try to get us off to a good start,” he told BBC Radio Five Live.

“Obviously Jason is going to bat four and that’s great for English cricket. With Jason Roy in the team we are a better team and with him coming in at four, hopefully with the new ball worn off and myself and Rory Burns doing our job at the top, it allows him to come in and play his way. He’s a great player to have there.”

Denly made his debut as an opener over the over the winter, but made just 23 runs, averaging 11.5, in two innings.

Denly will move back up the order (Getty Images)

Denly averages 37.33 at No 3, while he now averages 22.42 at No 4.

Roy has played seven of his eight Test match innings as an opener, averaging 8.85, though he did make 72 when coming in at No 3 against Ireland at Lord’s.