The Kent batsman, who announced his new role on BBC Radio 5 Live, insisted that England are a “better team” with Roy in the side, despite the Surrey man’s ill-form in the series thus far; he has scored 57 runs from six innings with a high score of 28.

“I got a call from Joe Root after a bit of time off and he said he’d like for me to go at the top of the order and try and get us off to a good start,” Denly said. “Obviously Jason’s going to bat at four.”

Denly, meanwhile, made just six and 17 opening the batting on his Test debut against West Indies earlier this year before stints at first drop and No.4.

He made a vital half-century in England’s second innings of the third Test at Headingley but he too has largely struggled since his call-up, with his six Tests yielding an average of 24.33.

England levelled the series at 1-1 in Leeds after a majestic unbeaten century from Ben Stokes – a knock many have rated as one of the greatest innings in Test history.