Cook has 'point to prove' against Australia

Alastair Cook, the England vice-captain who has a modest record against Australia, has said the experience gained since his first visit Down Under will help him do better during the 2010-11 Ashes. Cook averages 26.21 in 10 Tests against Australia, and could manage only one significant score when England were blanked 5-0 in 2006-07, a second-innings 116 in Perth, but was confident of better returns this time.

"The one side I haven't played as well as against than the other sides has been Australia," Cook told AFP. "I have got that point to prove over the next three months. Last time [in Australia] I was obviously 21-years old; to come here as an opening batter, as a youngster, was a very tough learning curve. It was my first year in international cricket as well. So to have 50-odd more games under my belt, seen a lot more, I think that experience will help."

Cook, who will open with Strauss, was mindful of the importance of good starts to compete in Australia, something England struggled to do in recent visits. "Obviously Straussy and I have been at the top of the order for a while now, we've done reasonably well and there's always the pressure as an opener to set the tone," Cook said. "We've got that job, we've had that job for a while and we've done it well. It's an area we appreciate we've got a lot of responsibility. Obviously as captain and vice-captain as well, we like to set the tone for the rest of the team."

Cook also backed his under-fire team-mate Kevin Pietersen to shrug off his indifferent form and be a force during the Ashes. Pietersen has struggled in the longer formats, and has not hit an international century in nearly two years. Despite his effectiveness in the 2010 World Twenty20, the England selectors dropped him from the limited-overs side against Pakistan, leading to a Twitter outburst that resulted in him being fined by the ECB.

"He has obviously had a difficult 12 months with his form, but his work ethic over those 12 months has been the hardest I've seen him work at his game," Cook said. "Talent like that and the stats he's got behind him show what a great player he is. Great players might lose their form for a little bit, but they come back and a big series like this, I think it's just about the right time to come back. I know he's desperate to prove to people he's still a great player."

Pietersen has been at the centre of most of the banter between the sides in the lead-up to the Ashes. John Buchanan said Pietersen could be a 'major problem' for England, to which he retaliated by calling the former Australia coach 'a nobody'. Michael Clarke was wary of Pietersen's ability to turn things on in big matches, while Andrew Strauss rubbished suggestions that he had a divisive influence on the squad. On Friday, Australia fast bowler Doug Bollinger talked about his plan to keep quiet while bowling to Pietersen since "I think that's what he likes".