Former captain Steve Waugh has re-joined Australian team as a mentor for remaining two Tests of Ashes series against England to pep up confidence level of visitors after Headingley debacle. Australia were on brink of an Ashes victory before throwing it away on fourth day of third Test at Leeds on August 25, failing to stop Ben Stokes (135-, who stitched 76 runs with number 11 batsman Jack Leach. Waugh arrived in Manchester on Sunday night ahead of fourth Test at Old Trafford starting on Wednesday, returning to Australian camp after being part of first two Tests (in Birmingham and London) as a mentor. Waugh has held similar mentoring positions with or sporting teams, including Australia's Olympic team for 2008 Games in Beijing and 2012 in London.

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Steve Waugh returns to mentor Australia

"We asked him to stay for third Test, but he had to go back (home) for a function. To come back after such a long time away from game, his passion and enthusiasm for game has been brilliant and it's going to be great," Australia head coach Justin Langer said. "Guys like 'Punter' (Ponting) and Steve Waugh, t only have y got a great presence within group but y're great psychologists as well. y've been in cauldron before, y've seen it before," Langer was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

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"A lot of my work is done in nets or in hotel or going for a walk in morning. It's observing with fresh eyes and if I can get players more confident and relaxed, I see that as my role," Waugh had said after Lord's Test. "And also for coaching staff and people around team, sometimes you're with same people for a long period of time and you do same things over and over again. It's good for someone to come in and just check it out from a different point of view and see things a little bit differently." As it stands after three Tests, 2019 Ashes is locked at 1-1 and it has been 18 years since Australia won urn in England

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Joe Denly confirms he will open for England

Joe Denly will open batting for England in fourth Ashes Test with struggling Jason Roy to drop down order, batsman told BBC on Monday. England will hope that Denly can add some solidity with Rory Burns when fourth Test gets underway at Old Trafford on Wednesday, as latter's Surrey team-mate Roy has accumulated just 62 runs in three Tests so far. Roy, who has failed to adapt to five-day format since World Cup-winning campaign earlier in season, will drop down to four. Denly scored his first half century of series in England's miraculous run chase in third Test, inspired by Ben Stokes, which leveled five-match series at 1-1. "I got a call from (captain) Joe Root after a bit of time off and he said he'd like me to go at top of order and try to get us off to a good start," Denly told BBC Radio. Denly made scores of six and 17 as an opener on his Test debut against West Indies in January before dropping down order. But he thinks his partnership with Rory Burns could enable Roy to attack Australian bowling.

"Obviously Jason is going to bat four and that's great for English cricket," said 33-year-old Denly. "With Jason Roy in team we are a better team and with him coming in at four, hopefully with new ball worn off and myself and Rory Burns doing our job at top, it allows him to come in and play his way. He's a great player to have re." 

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