England will take ‘Ashes’ back : Cook

England test squad captain Alastair Cook seems confident on Ashes victory despite their lame form. He opined that he has seen enough potential in his team to believe that they can take back the Ashes from Australia.

Cook’s side were beaten by 199 runs by New Zealand here to draw the two-match series 1-1, having been set 455 to win.

He said that England will cash in on the home conditions. “In our home conditions, we are comfortable. But we have to make a step forward as a side and we have to do it quickly.”

England will take 'Ashes' back : Cook
England will take ‘Ashes’ back : Cook

England, who have not lost a home series to Australia since 2001, were beaten 0-5 Down Under in 2013-14. Their bid to win the Ashes back begins on July 8 in Cardiff.

The skipper backed key batsmen Ian Bell and Gary Ballance to return to form before the Ashes. Bell has managed only 55 runs in his last eight innings, while Ballance has 36 in his last four.

“They are fantastic players. Clearly they haven’t scored the runs they would have liked and they have five weeks to get some form in county cricket.There will be concern because they haven’t scored the runs, but form comes and goes. Two games in isolation does not make you a bad player.” he said.

He opined that off-spinner Moeen Ali should gain his form back before the arrival of Australians. “Mo hasn’t bowled as well as he bowled last summer, so he’s got some work to do to get that consistency back. He does spin the ball hard, so if he can get that control back we know he can be a threat,” said Cook.

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