England batsman Joe Root has insisted that he is ready to move up to number three in the batting order for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan.
The 25-year-old usually bats at number four for his country, but will attempt to move up a place for the four-Test visit of this summer's tourists.
Root admitted that he may not have been ready had he been thrown into the role without warning, but revealed that he had been discussing the possibility for a while with head coach Trevor Bayliss and captain Alastair Cook.
"We had a few discussions throughout the season that it could be a possibility moving forward. I think the fact I had quite a long time to think about it and to chat it over with the selectors and Trevor and Cooky it probably made it a bit easier, rather than being thrown into the role," Root told reporters.
"The way they've dealt with it has been really good and it's given me time to get my head around it.
"I feel pretty comfortable going into the series and it's now just about trying to make sure that moving forward that's something I feel comfortable with and I can keep making big scores and contributing to winning Test matches."
The first Test between England and Pakistan begins on Thursday at Lord's.
