Gillespie says moving Root up batting order 'no-brainer' for English selectors

Former Australian Test cricketer Jason Gillespie has said that he believed that moving Joe Root to the top of the order was a no-brainer for England's selectors.

The baby-faced Yorkshireman has been promoted from No5 to open with captain Alastair Cook after Nick Compton was controversially axed, The Sun reports.

Confident that the young batting ace will shine against the Australians in the Ashes this summer, Gillespie, who works with Root at county level, said that he does not think that Root being in the opener position is a risk, adding that England's selectors may have felt that the Cook and Root combination is the best for a long-term effect.

According to the Yorkshire coach, Root, who has opened his whole career for Yorkshire, will take to opening like a duck to water as he is a very adaptable player, adding that he has no doubt that Root can make his presence felt in this Ashes series at the top of the order.

Gillespie further said that all indications are pointing towards Root as a youngster with a wonderful career ahead of him, adding that Root is one of the few batsmen who will always encourage the bowlers to get as new a ball as they can even on spicy practice wickets so that he can challenge himself and continually get better.

Impressed by Root's form, playing techniques and attitude, Gillespie also said that Root will do well as a long-term opener for England, adding that he is living the dream and enjoying himself, a feeling which is rubbing off on his teammates as well.

Even though another of Gillespie's county stars Jonny Bairstow has been in and out of the England side since making his Test debut last summer and has yet to register an international ton, however, the former Australian international backed Bairstow, saying that he has incredible talent and can learn from the batting icons around him.

Hoping that England gives Bairstow a good long run in the middle order, Gillespie also said that the youngster had a tough 12 months and has not played sufficient amount of cricket, although he is reacting well to the challenge.

Although he agreed that Cook's men are favourites for this summer's five-Test series, Gillespie however, has been given renewed hope by last month's decision to replace axed coach Mickey Arthur with Darren Lehman and has not ruled out a repeat of 1989, when Allan Border's side were dubbed 'possibly the worst side to ever tour England', only to go on an win the series 4-0.