England selector Mick Newell has defended opener Adam Lyth following his Ashes struggles.

The Yorkshire batsman has failed to make a serious impact so far against Australia, hitting just 72 runs in six innings with a highest score of 37.

England head to Trent Bridge for the start of the fourth Test on Thursday 2-1 up after an eight-wicket win at Edgbaston last week put them on the brink of a series victory.

England have already changed their batting line-up this series, with Jonny Bairstow replacing Gary Ballance and Ian Bell and Joe Root moving up the order.

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Nottinghamshire’s  Alex Hales has also been tipped to replace Lyth but Newell insists the opener’s position is safe.

“We haven’t even discussed anything beyond this Test match,” Newell told Sky Sports.

” Adam Lyth has everyone’s confidence to come out here on Thursday and score runs for England. He has justified his place in the team and scored an awful lot of runs for Yorkshire to get into this team and he has a Test match century under his belt, so he has everyone’s confidence.

“It’s up to players like Alex Hales and others to push their cases in the county games.”

Victory in Nottingham will see England regain the Ashes and Newell is hopeful the wicket can favour their bowling attack.

“It’s looking good. The groundsman is preparing the pitch as he always does,” he said.

“I think the main issues are that we want to make sure it has pace, carry and bounce through to the wicketkeeper and the slip fielders are there to take the catches as they come. The main issues for us are mainly pace and bounce in the wicket.”