England captain Alastair Cook said Tuesday he had no qualms about having Joe Root open alongside him in the cauldron of an Ashes Test.
All of Root's six previous Tests have been as a middle-order batsman, with the 22-year-old's average 42.40 -- not bad for a fledgling international.
Meanwhile, Australia captain Michael Clarke said he was taken aback by England's decision to drop Nick Compton for the first Ashes Test at Nottingham's Trent Bridge.
Compton, grandson of England great Denis, opened in nine consecutive Tests and struck back-to-back hundreds on England's tour of New Zealand earlier this year.
But the Somerset batsman was dropped from England's squad, and so won't feature in the first Test against Australia starting Thursday, after struggling in the return home series against New Zealand where he managed just 39 runs in four innings.
Instead England have promoted Joe Root to partner captain Alastair Cook in what will be the Yorkshireman's first Test as an opener.
Clarke saw Compton at close quarters in both of Australia's warm-up matches, the batsman making fifties for Somerset and as a 'guest' for Worcestershire.
"We haven't bowled to Joe yet but we didn't manage to get Nick out that easily, so I'm happy he's not playing to be honest," Clarke told reporters at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.
"Nick has showed in the last couple of four day matches he has a very good defence and I'm surprised he's not in the team for the first Test," star batsman Clarke added.
Compton, grandson of England great Denis, opened in nine consecutive Tests and struck back-to-back hundreds on England's tour of New Zealand earlier this year.
But the Somerset batsman was dropped after struggling in the return home series against New Zealand where he managed just 39 runs in four innings.
Cook, who struck a century on Test debut against India in Nagpur, was confident Root could handle the transition, telling reporters at Trent Bridge on Tuesday: "It's quite similar to what happened to myself really when I moved up from number three, although I had opened a couple of times in India.
"He (Root) is kind of thrown in there but he has handled himself in every situation fantastically well since he made his England debut.
"What has impressed everyone is he has always batted the situation fantastically well, whether it has been a one-day game where you need to score quickly or see the side home, he has managed to change his style for Twenty20 and Test matches as well. I can see no reason why he can't handle himself. He is a fantastic young player.
"Yes he has got a huge amount of improvement to do but I think he will be absolutely fine."
However, Australia captain Michael Clarke, speaking earlier Tuesday, was taken aback by Compton's omission.
"We haven't bowled to Joe yet but we didn't manage to get Nick out that easily, so I'm happy he's not playing to be honest," Clarke said.
"Nick has showed in the last couple of four day matches he has a very good defence and I'm surprised he's not in the team for the first Test," star batsman Clarke added.
