<p>England have dropped batsman Joe Denly for the second Test against the West Indies, returning captain Joe Root confirmed on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Root missed England's four-wicket loss in last week's first Test following the arrival of his second child.</p>.<p>But the star batsman has slotted back into the side for the second Test at Old Trafford starting Thursday.</p>.<p>The 34-year-old Denly was always likely to make way after two low scores in last week's loss at Southampton left him with a modest average of 29.53 from 15 Tests.</p>.<p>Denly's place was put under further threat by an innings of 76 from Kent team-mate Zak Crawley at the Ageas Bowl.</p>.<p>"It's never an easy decision, never easy having to leave someone out," Root told a conference call on Wednesday.</p>.<p>"With Joe (Denly) over a period of time he's done a brilliant job for us, he's helped show our identity as a side and how we played moving forward. It's a very difficult decision but we've gone a different way."</p>.<p>The Yorkshireman added: "You watch Zak's progression since he's been involved in the team, his game has continued to get stronger.</p>.<p>"Joe is someone who has done a fantastic job for us over a period of time and he'll be as frustrated as anyone that he's not been able to covert those opportunities."</p>.<p>Last week's victory left West Indies 1-0 up in the three-match series, taking place behind closed doors.</p>.<p>A win in either of the two remaining matches, both being staged at Old Trafford, would see the tourists to their first Test series triumph in England for 32 years.</p>
<p>England have dropped batsman Joe Denly for the second Test against the West Indies, returning captain Joe Root confirmed on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Root missed England's four-wicket loss in last week's first Test following the arrival of his second child.</p>.<p>But the star batsman has slotted back into the side for the second Test at Old Trafford starting Thursday.</p>.<p>The 34-year-old Denly was always likely to make way after two low scores in last week's loss at Southampton left him with a modest average of 29.53 from 15 Tests.</p>.<p>Denly's place was put under further threat by an innings of 76 from Kent team-mate Zak Crawley at the Ageas Bowl.</p>.<p>"It's never an easy decision, never easy having to leave someone out," Root told a conference call on Wednesday.</p>.<p>"With Joe (Denly) over a period of time he's done a brilliant job for us, he's helped show our identity as a side and how we played moving forward. It's a very difficult decision but we've gone a different way."</p>.<p>The Yorkshireman added: "You watch Zak's progression since he's been involved in the team, his game has continued to get stronger.</p>.<p>"Joe is someone who has done a fantastic job for us over a period of time and he'll be as frustrated as anyone that he's not been able to covert those opportunities."</p>.<p>Last week's victory left West Indies 1-0 up in the three-match series, taking place behind closed doors.</p>.<p>A win in either of the two remaining matches, both being staged at Old Trafford, would see the tourists to their first Test series triumph in England for 32 years.</p>