Cook backs England’s batting power to end Ashes drought in Australia

LONDON: Former England captain Alastair Cook believes that England’s explosive batting lineup could finally end their 15-year wait for an Ashes Test win in Australia when the five-match series begins in Perth next month.

England have not tasted victory Down Under since their 3-1 triumph in the 2010–11 series, a campaign in which Cook himself starred with 766 runs and three centuries. Since then, Australia have dominated at home, winning the last three Ashes series by margins of 5-0, 4-0, and 4-0.

However, with Ben Stokes leading a revitalised side, optimism is growing. “We’d be naive to say Australia aren’t favourites,” Cook said at the Oval on Tuesday during TNT Sports’ launch event for the series. “But the way this England side plays, you think they’ve got a really good chance. On their day, they score runs at a tempo and pace to knock Australia off their lines and lengths.”

Cook also highlighted the attacking intent of openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett as a major strength. “That’s a big competitive advantage — the way England’s top order can go hard,” said Cook, who remains England’s all-time leading Test run scorer.

With former bowler Stuart Broad calling this Australia side their weakest since 2010, England will sense a golden opportunity to rewrite their recent Ashes story on Australian soil.