Flower backs Cook to deliver

Andy Flower, the England coach, has backed the under-pressure opener Alastair Cook to perform in the Ashes. Cook, England's vice-captain, was the only notable failure in the tourists' six-wicket victory over West Australia. He managed scores of 5 and 9 in the practice game and has only two more warm-up fixtures to find form before going into the Ashes opener with a modest average of 26.21 from 10 Tests against Australia.

Despite his poor record, and a difficult summer where 110 of his 226 runs came in a single, career-saving innings against Pakistan at The Oval, Flower insists there is no problem with Cook. "I don't have concerns," said Flower. "It's one game, two innings [against West Australia]. I think he's going to do well."

England have moved to Adelaide for their second practice game, against South Australia, which begins on November 11, and don't have a specialist opener as backup for Cook and Andrew Strauss. If Cook were to struggle, then Jonathan Trott, who opened with him against Bangladesh earlier this year, could move up from No. 3 and allow Eoin Morgan to slot into the line-up.

It would be a major reshuffle and Flower is clearly reluctant to meddle too much at this stage. He is pleased with England's progress after their first victory in an opening first-class match in Australia since 1965-66, but stressed the need for his players to gain as much match practice as possible before the first Test in Brisbane.

"It was very important for us to get that middle time," Flower said. "One of our priorities is not to give everyone a go. We are trying to prepare our Test side for Brisbane and while with a squad of 16 or 17 everyone wants to play, our priority is to ensure that our Test XI is as ready as possible for the first Test."

The tourists' victory against West Australia was not entirely blemish free with the batsmen collapsing to 8 for 159 in the first innings and the home side reaching 1 for 130 in the second, before England surged to victory on the back of four wickets for Graeme Swann and an unbeaten century from Strauss.

Strauss's undisputed position as captain contrasts with his opposite number Ricky Ponting whose future is being debated in the Australian media and Flower emphasised the importance for the leader to perform well. "[Strauss] is an important man, because he's our leader. Captains want to lead from the front but it's important for all of our guys to contribute, so I don't think one batsman is more important than the next. They've all got to do it."

With England settled on a balance of four bowlers and six batsmen Graeme Swann's dual role as wicket-taker and defensive option will be crucial in the series. He is now ranked No. 2 in the world and pressure is on him to deliver the goods in a country where touring offspinners have not had much success.

"Expectations on Graeme Swann are high and he will make his contributions, there's no doubt about that, he's a very fine bowler," Flower said. "But he's one of four bowlers in our Test attack, and it's important our whole side works together to create pressure - and he's one of those guys."