England's top order can fire England to Ashes triumph, says Cook

LONDON :England have not won an Ashes test match in Australia for nearly 15 years but their batting firepower could prove decisive in the series starting in Perth next month, according to former captain Alastair Cook.

That 2010-11 series ended in a 3-1 England victory with Cook scoring 766 runs including three centuries, but since then it has been a tale of woe Down Under for England with Australia winning 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0.

There is a growing belief, however, that inspirational captain Ben Stokes can stop the rot against an Australia side described as the worst since 2010 by former England bowler Stuart Broad.

"We'd be naive to say Australia aren't favourites," the 40-year-old Cook told reporters on Tuesday at the Oval as TNT Sports launched its coverage plan for the five-test series.

"But the way this England side plays you think they've got a really good chance. Look at the batting line up, England's top seven. On their day they score runs at a tempo and pace to knock Australia off their lines and lengths.

"Everyone who plays England knows if you're not on it every minute, they can change games in an hour or two."

CRAWLEY AND DUCKETT PARTNERSHIP KEY

Unlike Australia's top order following the retirement of David Warner, England's almost picks itself and while opener Zak Crawley averages only 31 in tests, Cook says his partnership with Ben Duckett gives England the ability to dictate matches.

"That's a big competitive advantage the way that England's top order can go hard," Cook, who was England's highest-ever test run scorer and century maker when he retired, aged 33 in 2018, said.

"If you look at Australia, (Usman) Khawaja and (Marnus) Labuschagne and maybe one other, that's not a fearful top order in terms of getting on the