Geoff Boycott: Ian Bell will be dropped if he doesn’t perform at No 3

The 33-year-old has been moved up the order to No 3 after Gary Ballance was dropped, but has been in poor form so far this summer, with just 116 runs in eight innings.

Jonny Bairstow has been brought in for the Test at Edgbaston next week but Boycott insists the top-order batsmen are still under pressure.

"They can't go on with someone not getting runs," Boycott told BBC Radio 5 live.

"If you have played over 100 Tests, you need to take responsibility for the very difficult position of No 3.”

"You need to be a bit like an opener. The way England are playing at the moment, they definitely need three openers at the top. Bell has to shoulder that responsibility and go up front. He needs to help the other guys out.

"The selectors are saying, 'if you don't perform at three, you are gone'. I love Ian Bell and his cricket, he is beautiful to watch, but if you don't have the mind or the defensive technique against pace bowling, you are going to get out."