England have reshuffled their batting order, but Brendon McCullum senses they failed to correct the most glaring issue.
Gary Ballance was dropped on Tuesday, with Jonny Bairstow taking his place in the XI for the third Ashes Test that starts next Wednesday.
Ian Bell has been promoted to first drop in place of Ballance, with Joe Root shuffling up to No.4.
New Zealand skipper McCullum, writing in his Daily Mail column, opined that Root should climb another spot in the order.
"I've said this before, but it's worth repeating: England need Joe Root to move up to No 3," McCullum wrote.
"At the moment he's walking to the wicket in a crisis each time.
"Move him up to three and he has a chance to impose himself on proceedings.
"It means he's not always fire-fighting and can shape an innings."
McCullum used the example of Steve Smith, who scored a career-best 215 to put Australia on track for a 405-run win at Lord's that squared the Ashes series 1-1.
"Smith laid the foundations for Australia's win. Root needs to be given a chance to do the same for England," he wrote.
First drop has almost always been the domain of the best batsman in a cricket side, which Root clearly is.
Former Australia captains Ricky Ponting and Ian Chappell have also recently suggested that Root should be at No.3.
"He was a county opening batsman when he was picked for England," Ponting told Sky Sports.
"He would have a technique that would stand up to No.3 in international cricket."
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