Kevin Pietersen backs Jason Roy play for England in Tests

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has backed the management to give his Surrey team-mate Jason Roy a chance in the Test squad.  The Three Lions are currently scheduled to play West Indies for a series of Test matches at home and Pietersen has backed Roy for the series.

The 27-year-old top order batsman has made 68 appearances for his country in limited-overs cricket, registering three hundred and nine fifties in his 46 ODIs and two half-centuries in 22 Twenty20 internationals. The right-hander, who averages a tad over 38 in first-class cricket, has yet to make a Test appearance but Pietersen believes he would make his additions justified if given the license to play shots in the middle order.

Lauding the youngster, Pietersen told Sky Sports, “He has gone through a rough period – he was dropped by England [at the end of the Champions Trophy] and is worrying about his place.”

“But he shouldn’t be worrying about his place – and he should be playing at six in the Test side. He’s got that much talent.”

Joe Root to bat at No. 3 to tackle top order crisis

In the meanwhile, England skipper Joe Root has rued about the top-order shortcomings ahead of the upcoming Test against the Caribbean giants on Thursday, August 17. With the selectors deciding to drop Keaton Jennings after his struggles at the top of the order, Root has considered moving back into the top three.

The selectors decided to call up Surrey’s Mark Stoneman as Cook’s latest opening partner. Tom Westley is the other batsman in the top three. A good performance from the youngsters would imply a consolidated spot in the England team for the Ashes tour later this year.

Although he admitted that his preferred batting position is No.4, Root has no option but to climb up the order. Root has the highest average as an opener – 41.70 – of any of Alastair Cook’s 11 opening partners since the retirement of Andrew Strauss at the end of the 2012 English season.